Question on Mercruiser Trim Cylinders

[Rock Hall]

I've got a 1989 Alpha One Gen I outdrive. I found out yesterday, when I splashed the boat, I've got a hole in my port side tube. The boat is at the marina 100 miles away. I've contacted a few vendors and they tell me I must measure the cylinder to determine the correct model. At the same time, I see guys selling used tubes that will fit all Alpha 1 Gen 1 drives. So this is confusing as I will have to wait another week till I can get down to measure them.
Also, I am no boat tech, but can usually handle any job that I can understand. I plan to pull the boat up on the trailer and replace the cylinder in the parking lot. Is this a reasonable expectation? nothing too difficult? According to all the documentation I looked at, it doesnt seem too hard. Any input? Tricks? Warnings?
Thanks for your help!
Mark

 

[Bondo]

Re: Question on Mercruiser Trim Cylinders

Ayuh,... There are 1" dia. cylinders,+ 1, 1/4" cylinders.... You can't mix them...
It's as simple as you think,..
Except that the lines tend to corrode into the cylinders,+ manifold, making it a knuckebuster of a job sometimes...
Using a Tubing Wrench will Help...

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: Question on Mercruiser Trim Cylinders

not sure what a tubing wrench is. where can I get one?

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Question on Mercruiser Trim Cylinders

Also known as a line wrench it looks like a boxed end wrench with one side cut open.Has 5 sides to grip the fitting.Slips over the line through the opening and then down on the fitting.I believe it is 3/8" for those trim lines.Be sure drive is all the way down before disconnecting any lines or it will fall down.Also you will need to bleed the down side of that cylinder.Pull the ram all the way out.Push in and hold your finger over the holes where the lines hook on.See which one has suction.That is the down side.Hit the down switch for a second to see which of your 2 disconnected hoses is the down hose.Remove that hose from the junction block under transom assembly.Connect to down hole on cylinder.Pull ram all the way out.Put the end of the hose on the cylinder in to a container full of trim oil.Slowly push in the ram and it should draw oil from the container in to the cylinder.Connect that line back to junction block and connect the other line to the cylinder.Assemble onto anchor pins and run up and down a few times .It will completely bleed itself through the reservoir.Make sure reservoir stays full at all times!