Trim Ram Fluid Leak

[FreeBeeTony]

Seems I have a trim ram fluid leak.
Drive is in a OK position for now...........don't want to pull the boat to make the repairs.
Is it OK to leave it like this for the rest of the season?

​Not sure which rams I have 15 9/16 or 16 3/16".
If I'm gonna replace both rams a hoses......does it matter which size I get?

 

[Bondo]

Seems I have a trim ram fluid leak.
Drive is in a OK position for now..........

Ayuh,..... Hi Tony,.... Where, exactly is it leakin',..??

The drive is gonna be full down,.... regardless,....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Not sure where it's leakin...........boat is in the water.

 

[alldodge]

Is it OK to leave it like this for the rest of the season?

It will continue to leak and water will get in. Not good to put oil in the water or water to get inside the trim

​Not sure which rams I have 15 9/16 or 16 3/16".
If I'm gonna replace both rams a hoses......does it matter which size I get?

Yes, you do not want two different sizes, hydraulics will break things

 

[wahlejim]

Just out of curiosity, how do you know its leaking? Is it leaking externally where you can see the oil in the water? Or is it leaking internally and the drive is just not staying in place? Internally, not as big of an issue, it just won't hold the drive in place and you will have to drive trimmed all the way down. Externally, pull it and fix it. If any oil is getting in the water, pull it and fix it.

If you are going the new ram and hose option, it is a 1 hour fix out of the water and you will be back boating in no time.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

How can I lift the OD while the boat is in the water?
​Need to lift it before I put the boat on the trailer.

 

[alldodge]

Pull the rear pin and lift it up, but going to need something to keep it up, like a rope to tie off on a cleat

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Guess I'm going in the water.........was hoping it would come up w/o removing the pin!

 

[Bondo]

Guess I'm going in the water.........was hoping it would come up w/o removing the pin!

Ayuh,.... It depends on how badly it's leakin',....

If ya can raise the drive with the pump, be ready, 'n lasso it when it hits the top of it's travel, 'n cleat it off,....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Doesn't seem to move at all w/ the pump!

 

[Bondo]

Doesn't seem to move at all w/ the pump!

Then I guess yer goin' swimmin',....

 

[wahlejim]

If there is a leak in the cylinder, you may be able to lift it by hand without getting in the water, depending on how bad the leak is. You will need a rope. Try lassoing the lower unit at the anti-ventilation plate above the prop. If you have a swim deck it will help to get the right angle. When you have it lassoed, lift up and see if the drive comes up. Get it to a point that you can secure a rope around the end of the rams and cleat it off.

If you do have to go swimming and take the pin off, tie off your tools. Swimming and keeping a grip on tools while getting the proper leverage is difficult if it is your first time. 1/8" nylon rope is plenty. Loop it through the open end of the wrenches..... I'm not speaking from experience or anything like that haha :facepalm:

 

[Brandon5778]

I would suggest trying to re-fill your trim pump with oil and see if it'll go up first. If it does tie it off and pull it out. Sorry if that's already been mentioned but I hadn't seen it. Mine took 20 weight oil.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Bondo AllDodge looks like I may not get to pulling the boat until Labor Day w/e!
Any harm in using the boat if I don't exercise the trim pump?
Drive will be in the down position so trim won't be optimal...........but still wanna go boating until I can pull it.

Any opinions?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Go ahead I guess,....

Donno what the sea water is gonna do to all the parts, 'n pieces of the trim system though,....

 

[alldodge]

Don't see anything major myself. When you go in reverse it might try to walk up out of the water, and if it does, it will might be sucking water in