2000 Merc 90ELPTO Power tilt issue

[fishnutz]

Hi all, the hydraulic ram is leaking from the top of the unit where the shaft moves in and out. There is a small seal the size of the shaft that has come out of the ram body and is still around the shaft. When I've looked at seal kits on line they dont show this seal, just two larger o-ring type seals...

Has anyone on here re-sealed one of these and will know that what I need is in fact included in the seal kits? Or am i shopping for a replacement unit. New are $600 from Merc and really really dont want to spend that but will if i have to...

Thanks, Rob

[fitz73222]

Hey Fishnuts,

Mercury stopped making the seal kits about 10 years ago and now you must replace the entire piston assembly for those 2 $.15 O rings!!! What your looking at is the piston wiper where the oil is leaking out of. Has the motor been sitting awhile? Before I bought my 22-2 the motors had only 60 hrs put on them in 9 years! Both of my 115`s had ram seal leaks like yours. I really dreaded the task and expense of tearing two trim systems down and paying $600 for the replacement piston kits. After about 25 hours of running them and checking the fluid level and hoping no water got into the system they stopped leaking. I assumed that the Orings either swelled back up or reseated. Whats weird is everytime I checked the fluid level I never had to add fluid and since the trim fluid is under pressure no water entered. I`ve read a service manual about how to replace the O rings and basically when you remove the piston assembly you can disassemble the threaded O ring cap on the bottom of the piston with all of its check valves and springs and slide it off the ram and be able to replace the O rings up top and reassemble. I`m sure replacement O rings can be found anywhere.

[fitz73222]

Sorry,
I got called for breakfast! Now, tilt the engine all the way up and support the system on the trailering bracket. That will relieve the pressure in the system. Clean all the oil from around the top of the ram cap. Use a que tip with some acetone or lacquer thinner and clean the seat were the piston wiper snaps in place. You may have to do this a couple of times until the pressure is fully relaxed. You can also just loosen the fill cap to relieve the rest of the pressure. Make sure you re tighten after the pressure is bled off. Clean the wiper shoulder and put a dab of locktite around the rim of the wiper and snap it back into the ram seat making sure you dont get any locktite on the piston that would glue the wiper and piston together that would pop it loose again once you tried to operate the system. Let it sit for 24 hours and then trim the unit back down and up to make sure it doesnt leak. One thing I noticed on mine was the wipers were both inverted (like a belly botton, INNIE) when it was leaking. They stopped leaking when the the little shoulder popped back out of the inversion (OUTEE) Hows that for techincal description of a ram seal leak! So make sure that wiper is in Outee mode before you reassmble it back into its seat.

[fishnutz]

Well it probably was sitting 6mos or so before i bought it. used it about 60hrs and one day it did not want to lower. got it home and topped off the res and all was better for a couple hours, i did not notice if the seal had become displaced at first but it is now. I'll try this remedy this week

Thanks!!!
Rob

[fishnutz]

the shaft seal was harder than a minnow on the floor of the boat all week. tried softening it up but it won't uncurl...Found a new unit at $450 on ebay, we'll have to bite the bullet

thanks for the help
Rob

[fishnutz]

OKAY, not going so well here. The lower pin is siezed into the mount bracket. I removed the complete assy w/ bracket. I've tried heating, freezing, air hammering and a combination of all the above. I now need a mount bracket, lower pin, upper pin and the two small retainer pins..
Are there any Mercury or general outboard salvage yards that one knows of???

I have the part #'s of all needed items

Or a Merc dealer that does internet parts sales for less than retail?

Thanks, Rob

[fishnutz]

Hi All, Okay it has been a few weeks, i bought a complete assy, also had to buy the mount bracket and pins. All better, spent more than I wanted to but its finished. Anyways, I ended up buying all the parts from

DOUG RUSSELL MARINE    508-791-4917
1 S.W. Cutoff Rd
Worcester MA  01604

The parts guy was great, they gave me approx 25% off retail and only charged me the actual shipping, no hidden handling or BS fees, just wanted to get their name out there as a stand up outfit as far as my deal went.

Also afetr i took the boat down to FLA, i ended up smoking the water pump. Bonita Boat Center(the Merc/Boston Whaler Dealer) by our place also gave me 25% off the pump kit!! Was a pleasant surprise and will use them when needed

Rob

[flounderpounder225]

Rob,
Don't feel like the lone ranger, that is the way that scenario ends up probably more times than not.  That is why I always take extra attention and care to my TTU's on both boats, extra rinse with salt-away, and the ocassional spray with anti-corrosion stuff, because one day all of us with power TTU will be staring at those pins  Glad everything worked out for you.
Marc

Rob check your PM's just sent one