trim not going all the way down

[jerryb1]

I have a 1980 Mercruiser 260 "one " style I guess you call it. The cylinders go up and down fine and hold position as they should. The problem I have is that they don't go all the way in, so I can't trim the boat correctly at high speed. I can see about 1/2 to 1" of shaft left when it's supposed to be all the way in. Is there an internal stop or something that senses when it's all the way in? The pump keeps running as long as I hold the button in. What if one stops because it needs replacing and the second is still trying to pull in? The boat is in the water for the season so I can't replace the cylinders now. What I could do is take each one off at a time(the piston end of course) and see if it travels correctly. Is this a common problem??

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: trim not going all the way down

The trim rams will get corroded in salt water.....
See if standing on the drive will force them in any further while hitting the 'down' button, but they probably need to be rebuilt.....
They are much stronger while moving in the 'up' direction than the 'down' direction....​

 

[jerryb1]

Re: trim not going all the way down

Thanks- It is in salt water. I'll try standing on it, maybe that will force it in. I had this problem at the end of last season, but when I took it out of the water, they worked fine in the driveway. I would think that pushing the button while in forward gear should also help move it in, but I tried that and it doesn't. One last question- How hard is it to rebuild the cylinders.
Thanks Again.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: trim not going all the way down

They are pretty simple actually.....
Of course it's salt water, I used to be from Jersey & there a'int no fresh water.....
Can you still boat on Budd lake & hopatcong these days?......​

 

[jerryb1]

Re: trim not going all the way down

I'll rebuild them this fall. The boat is in Barneget, and I'm wondering wether I screwed up the cylinders by hitting the bottom sand all the time in the darn shallow water?
--I'm not sure about Budd Lake, but Hopatcong and Greenwood lake are still big boating areas. Many of the smaller lakes are now non gas boats only.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: trim not going all the way down

It's a possibility, but more likely it is the salt.....
I have spent many a day on Barnegat Bay, one of the few things I miss about NJ.....
My sister lives in Barnegat.....​