best way to clean out rams

[stealthdrummer]

If what I found in the pump (looked like gooey syrup, sludge and some clean oil I added last week) is in the rams it's no wonder why the trim is not working right. Or at least adding to the problem. Anyway to my question. I have twin rams that are sealed (Merc part# 79114A4) and need to get the goo out of them. Is there a good way to clean them out? The pump is a prestolite with the valve assembly on the bottom of the pump tank.
What is happening is when the motor is trimmed up it will slowly fall back to the full down position. I tried running the boat and the motor will push the rams all the way down after 10-15 seconds. Hit the button and it will trim up but not stay. Don't know if the rams are bad, valve assembly is bad, or was gooed up or what. Any help or ideas will be great.

 

[79Merc80]

Re: best way to clean out rams

A little more information would be nice, like year, make, model, HP rating and if possible serial#.

 

[stealthdrummer]

Re: best way to clean out rams

1978, Merc 150 black max, champion bass boat....the ram part number is listed in the post.

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: best way to clean out rams

If what I found in the pump (looked like gooey syrup, sludge and some clean oil I added last week) is in the rams it's no wonder why the trim is not working right. Or at least adding to the problem. Anyway to my question. I have twin rams that are sealed (Merc part# 79114A4) and need to get the goo out of them. Is there a good way to clean them out? The pump is a prestolite with the valve assembly on the bottom of the pump tank.
What is happening is when the motor is trimmed up it will slowly fall back to the full down position. I tried running the boat and the motor will push the rams all the way down after 10-15 seconds. Hit the button and it will trim up but not stay. Don't know if the rams are bad, valve assembly is bad, or was gooed up or what. Any help or ideas will be great.

Which model do you have?

 

[stealthdrummer]

Re: best way to clean out rams

628

 

[BIGALF]

Re: best way to clean out rams

It sounds like they are orginal rams. If so you probable have a seal that is leaking and getting water in the lines and rams. If so it is best to replace rams not ry to fix them. Make sure it is a leak in the rams and not in the line from the ram to the pump tank.

 

[RRitt]

Re: best way to clean out rams

i doubt there is anything internally wrong with your rams. Rams fall fast and pumps fall slow. Inspect the seals around piston shaft on rams to make sure that isn't where water is getting in. If the wipers are good then the rams are probably okay.

 

[merc850]

Re: best way to clean out rams

If you want to flush the system, remove the lines from both rams and secure them in a bucket or jar then fill the tank with fresh 5W20 oil and press the up and in buttons until fresh oil comes out. When the oil coming out is clean attach the lines then open the bleed screws on the rams one at a time and run the pump to bleed system (see pic.)

 

[stealthdrummer]

Re: best way to clean out rams

That would work if the rams had bleed screws. The only way to get oil thru the rams would be to disconnect a line on the distro block and run the pump. I got the pump,gear housing and valve body cleaned up, just waiting on new o-rings and tank seal. As soon as they come in I am going to try and flush out the rest of the system and see what happens.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: best way to clean out rams

If what I found in the pump (looked like gooey syrup, sludge.....

I'm not sure about cleaning out your trim rams. But,,, I had the trim pump in my Mercruiser gummed up with a thick gooey sludge, oil got contaminated with something, water, dunno? Anywho, that sludge was almost impossible to clean out and I ended up ripping the pump and valve body apart to get it clean, had to scrub the carp off as spray solvents alone wouldn't clean off the sticky residue. Friggin nasty mess for sure.... If your trim oil turned into the same sticky goo that was in my trim system, it would be darn near impossible to clean it out of the trim rams without taking them apart.

BTW, that sticky goo was fouling up the valve body in my Oildyne pump, valves not opening/closing properly.