How easy is it to replace the seals on a 50 hp Johnson trim/tilt myself

[skoboten2day]

I noticed the trim fluid, or automatic transmission fluid, is escaping from the top of my tilt seal and leaking down the unit. Is it a bad seal you think? How hard is it to do this myself? I don't have the best tools, and I'm not the most handy guy either. What am I looking at to have a professional fix it or replace it? Thanks!

 

[racerone]

Shocking what simple repairs cost at a shop.----Labor rates.----Make a tool from 1/4" x 2 " flat bar to unscrew the cap.----Not hard to do at home..

 

[Chris1956]

You will need a spanner to unscrew the top of the PTT cylinder. They are avail from Amazon for short $. There are lots of them, so you will need to measure the dia of the holes and the distance apart and see if you can match that to a spanner.

There used to be a seal kit for a lot of those PTT units. It will have what you need to stop that leak. You need to check the PTT rod for nicks or burrs that will rip the new seal. Emery paper them smooth, before installing the new oring seal.

 

[Crosbyman]

My 2005 75 hp ETEC had T&T failure in need of a reseal a several years ago. Cost was $600 cdn incl taxes

Because I did not have the courage to venture into a DIY job I paid and learned. . After much research on utubes if my T&T ever fails (touch wood) I will certainly dive in and do it myself !
BTW
My ETEC manual said the T&T needed a special BRP bio oil $$$$ and oddly enough my dealer did not know this ?? After much discussion on the ETEC board the conclusion was that BRP may have been concerned about their motor's T&T units dumping oil in lakes and rivers etc... and getting the EPA on their back $$$.

my T&T was refilled with regular T&T mineral oil and has been working fine for several years now .

 

[FLATHEAD]

You will need a spanner to unscrew the top of the PTT cylinder. They are avail from Amazon for short $. There are lots of them, so you will need to measure the dia of the holes and the distance apart and see if you can match that to a spanner.

There used to be a seal kit for a lot of those PTT units. It will have what you need to stop that leak. You need to check the PTT rod for nicks or burrs that will rip the new seal. Emery paper them smooth, before installing the new oring seal.

Harbor freight sells an adjustable Spanner wrench. Can’t speak to how strong they are but cheap and you’ll know it’ll fit.

 

[Lou C]

I did that job on my old Cobra drive this past spring, the tough part is getting those caps off, if you can do that, the rest of the job is pretty easy. BRP still sells the seal kit for the Cobra drives, it could even be the same thing for the outboards but I don't know for sure. I had a spare set of freshwater used trim rams so I took those apart, left my old cylinders on the transom mount (so I didn't have to disturb the hydraulic fittings) and used the rams from the freshwater units, my old ones were getting pitted. Believe it or not the original rams lasted about 35 years before leaking, just a little! I used a bit of heat on the end of the cylinders and had to put my full weight/strength into using that pin wrench to get those caps to move....
To do each side the seal kits were $55 each, I forgot what I paid for those used trim cyls but you can buy them for Cobras in good shape for like $150 or so.
First see if you can get the seal kit for your model #, then check the ram to see if it's pitted or not, you can probably find those used if it's pitted, next you have to have at it with the pin wrench. GOOD LUCK, getting the caps off is not easy!

 

[Lou C]

 

[Crosbyman]

try heat and some release agent (wd40 etc..) to seep n by capilary action.. retry patience brings joy
Dupont teflon spray is very thin like water

 

[Lou C]

You can use heat on the end of the cylinder and then force the pins into the cap as much as you can when turning the pin wrench with a ratchet.