Volvo Penta trim cylinders

[99 Regal]

Hello Everyone,

I've been in and around the water for many years, never having my own boat until now...I have recently acquired my first boat. Special note: acquired is not equal to purchase. The boat was given to me because it was killing my neighbor's grass.

What I have:
1999 Regal 1900LSR
4.3 GL PBYC
3868756
Outdrive: SX-M
3858892

I have been reading posts on here like crazy and I'm amazed at the wealth of knowledge I have found so far...with the help of this site I had this boat up and running in a couple of days, prior to this weekend the boat had not been started in almost two years.

I'm going through this "work in progress" piece by piece, trying to make it right and dependable. While working on the engine I had noticed the trim pump reservoir was filled with more water than fluid. Making a long story short, I figure the seals in the trim cylinders are bad and drawing in the water even though I cant see any signs of a fluid leak. I have read a couple of things on this forum...

1. A Volvo Penta repair kit is not available
2. In most cases an OMC kit will work on the Volvo cylinders

I also read how to make my on spanner wrench to take the end cap of the cylinders off...what I can't find any where is what to expect when I pull the caps off...when I pull the shafts out by hand it feels like there may be a spring inside the cylinder??? or maybe it's just vacuum created by the remaining fluid??? Not sure but wanted to know if this cap and shaft will be violently projected into my forehead once it's loosened all the way or will it just come off nice and easy in the palm of my hand...And once I'm in there what should I clean the lines and cylinders out with?? The fluid/water combo is bright pink, very thick and in everything....any ideas would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Senior B]

Re: Volvo Penta trim cylinders

As the fluid has most likely never been changed, I would drain the fluid, refill and cycle the drive up/down a few times and change it again. You can use ATF in these for trim fluid and it works fine. I use Dextron in mine. I say to do this first as you may have no problem at all if you have no sign of external leaks. Will the drive stay trimmed up while on the trailer or does it creep down? Now, the OMC kit DOES work to re-build these and they're very simple to do. I would get a proper 1.5" open face spanner/pin wrench to take the caps off. They are aluminum and the holes bore out easily. I have used a pair of big 90 degree needle nose pliers in a pinch but the proper wrench makes taking the caps off a breeze. Believe the part number for the kit is in a forum here. Any how the cap won't fly off when you take it off. The kit has all the instructions. Takes about 30 min a side if you go that route. Good luck.

 

[Jmmihuc]

Re: Volvo Penta trim cylinders

Hello Everyone,

I've been in and around the water for many years, never having my own boat until now...I have recently acquired my first boat. Special note: acquired is not equal to purchase. The boat was given to me because it was killing my neighbor's grass.

What I have:
1999 Regal 1900LSR
4.3 GL PBYC
3868756
Outdrive: SX-M
3858892

I have been reading posts on here like crazy and I'm amazed at the wealth of knowledge I have found so far...with the help of this site I had this boat up and running in a couple of days, prior to this weekend the boat had not been started in almost two years.

I'm going through this "work in progress" piece by piece, trying to make it right and dependable. While working on the engine I had noticed the trim pump reservoir was filled with more water than fluid. Making a long story short, I figure the seals in the trim cylinders are bad and drawing in the water even though I cant see any signs of a fluid leak. I have read a couple of things on this forum...

1. A Volvo Penta repair kit is not available
2. In most cases an OMC kit will work on the Volvo cylinders

I also read how to make my on spanner wrench to take the end cap of the cylinders off...what I can't find any where is what to expect when I pull the caps off...when I pull the shafts out by hand it feels like there may be a spring inside the cylinder??? or maybe it's just vacuum created by the remaining fluid??? Not sure but wanted to know if this cap and shaft will be violently projected into my forehead once it's loosened all the way or will it just come off nice and easy in the palm of my hand...And once I'm in there what should I clean the lines and cylinders out with?? The fluid/water combo is bright pink, very thick and in everything....any ideas would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Take the cylinders to a hydraulic shop. I just had both of mine rebuilt for $100 dollars a piece. I was also told there is no rebuilt kit. When u pull the end cap off you'll pull out the piston. I was unable to get the pivot pins out front the transom shield. So we just twisted the cap off and took the cylinder and one end in for rebuilt.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Volvo Penta trim cylinders

Google that BRP part # 985060 that is the one

Its a 20 minute fix