Chaparral 1935SS Tilt Issue

[fastguns33]

Morning everyone!

I recently bought a 1996 Chaparral 1935 SS with a VolvoPenta 5.0 Duo-Prop. It is in great condition and has very low hours. The previous owner took good care of it.

My problem is that somehow water is getting into the tilt resevoir, be it rain (most likely) or via the cylinders on the drive unit. When I would tilt the unit all the way up, it would leak down to the ground in a few days. The oil in the resevoir was nothing but mily nasty stuff, so I siphoned it out and washed the resevoir. I filled it with ATF and begin working the tilt up and down it gurgled a bit as the water was going out of the lines and into the res. I noticed that the res was going down, but also filling with some milky fluid again (normal I guess a sit works out of the lines). So I had planned to drain it and fill it once I had worked it a few times.

I went to the back of the boat to add some pressure to the unit to se eif there was any play and noticed the tilt cylinders were leaking milky fluid from them at a nice pace. More like watery fluid, but yea. So here is my question:

Is that common until I get the water out of the system? And if so, is there an easier or better way than just using a siphon to get the old fluid out of the resevoir?

I appreciate the time and help!

 

[Don S]

Re: Chaparral 1935SS Tilt Issue

Is that common until I get the water out of the system? And if so, is there an easier or better way than just using a siphon to get the old fluid out of the resevoir?

No, it's not common or normal. The seal on the rod is leaking. If the rod is good, Volvo has a kit to repair them. It's PN 3854247

I usually remove the pump, and pull the reservoir off the pump and clean it. Then disconnect the cylinders and move them back and forth to empty them..

 

[fastguns33]

Re: Chaparral 1935SS Tilt Issue

Don,

Thank you very much for the response. That would make sense why there would be mass quantities of water in the resevoir then.

I did take the resevoir off the first time and clean it. Cylinders meaning the cylinders on the pump or on the drive unit?

Thanks again.

 

[fastguns33]

Re: Chaparral 1935SS Tilt Issue

Ok,

New update. Chaparral says the cylinder is not rebuildable even though the part number for the seal is good for that cylinder. Can I still replace that seal or is there something more specific I need to put in here?

One of the better marine repair places up here says that there were a few cylinders for Chaparral that WERE able to be rebuilt, but that the 96 is not one of them.

Help? I reallllly d not want to have to spent my paycheck on new cylinders if I can spend $24 on new seals. Also, the wrench for the cylinder...$242

Fun times.

 

[Don S]

Re: Chaparral 1935SS Tilt Issue

New update. Chaparral says the cylinder is not rebuildable even though the part number for the seal is good for that cylinder.

Why is it not rebuildable, Is the rod or the cylinder bad?

One of the better marine repair places up here says that there were a few cylinders for Chaparral that WERE able to be rebuilt, but that the 96 is not one of them.

Chaparral DOES NOT have trim cylinders, they have boats. Volvo has engine and drive systems.
Are you sure you have a 96 engine and drive? It's not uncommon to have a 95 IO in a 97 boat.
What you need to find is a Volvo certified repair shop, or you are stuck with people trying to fix boats with no manuals, parts, experience, or schooling to do the job.

 

[fastguns33]

Re: Chaparral 1935SS Tilt Issue

The rod and cylinder are fine. One repair shop (sells and maintains Chaparral with Mercruiser and Volvo engines) says that they called Chapparral because he had never heard of rebuilding a seal on a trim cylinder and another place I called said that all i needed to do was find some bolts that fit into the cap on the cylinder and turn it counter clockwise until it came off, but to be careful not to pinch the o-rings when I put it back together.

Both shops are Volvo certified repair shops though that is what threw me. I ordered the seal kit anyhow with the part # you gave me. As soon as it gets here I will replace the seals and see what happens.