Force 85 Tilt Cylinder

[FAQdaWorld]

Hey Folks

For Reference: 1987 Force 85hp with Power Tilt/Trim (Force Style) with separate tilt and trim cylinder / rams.

Was working on the boat the other day and all of a sudden I hard a slight pop and then I started losing all of my Tilt/Trim fluid down the transom.

I took it all apart hoping to find a small leak that just needed new o-rings or something of the sort. NO DICE

There is a pinhole leak in the cylinder inside the area where the bottom pivot shaft screw passes through. I'm working on getting a picture to attach to this thread to better describe it. I cant think of anyway to repair this as I dont think welding is possible and I'm fairly confident that jb weld / epoxy wont hold up.

On ebay these things go for 200 bucks or more when they're available and they're still used! Anyone have any ideas on how to fix or have a spare they can part with?

-Ryan / FAQ

 

[FAQdaWorld]

Re: Force 85 Tilt Cylinder

Here is a pic with where its leaking from circled in yellow.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Force 85 Tilt Cylinder

go to Napa and buy a 1/8" pipe to 3/16" brake tube adapter. drill and thread a hole in bottom of shock so that the fitting is flush and square. carefully drill an angled 1/16" channel from bottom of this hole into the bottom of shock body. remove the steel liner and your shock will become a tilt cylinder. transfer band fitting and very carefully drill an upper hole to match existing. Don't get position or angle wrong on any drilling since you only get one try.

either that or wait. You should be able to find a used & rebuildable one for $30-$50, a rebuilt one for $100, and sometimes you luck into NOS for 70ish. The evinrudes usually don't fit Force because the tube position is wrong on upper fitting. If you could weld it shut and drill a new hole the the Johnson Evinrude rams would do fine. They go as cheap as $20-$30 as New Old Stock.