Stringer hydraulic rams

[boarder]

I am looking for replacement rams or kits , anyone have any ideas? It's on a 1984 5.7 L Chevy.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

That ain't a stringer.

 

[boarder]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

Its a 1984 OMC outdrive, operates with external ball gears, the entire engine moves to trim the boat. There are 2 "rams" (maybe the wrong name) that look like motor mounts that are connected to a hydraulic pump, the 2 rams are leaky.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

I rebuilt mine a while back. Its rather simple. What you want to do is raise the drive with the rams (trim all the way down). Then you want to take a 2X4 (I used two - one on top of the other to be safe) and put it under the engine damper. Then lower the drive (trim up) on to the 2X4(s). Then remove your hydraulic line on the ram. Now remove the lag bolts and then the bolts where the ram that goes on the side of the motor. You will need an impact wrench to get the bolt off the piston shaft under the mount. Mine did not have enough power so I brought it up to a local auto parts store where they had a more powerful electric impact wrench. They loosened them for me at no charge. Look on eBay, there is a guy that sells a kit for a good price. If you don't find him, you can order all you need through dougrussell.com for around $125. The guy on eBay was selling a kit for like half that.

You will need: #10 #9 #8 #7 and #4 (two of each to do both sides).

 

[boarder]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

Thanks for that, they are working, but 1 leaks, I think I will wait until the season is over and give a shot at rebuilding them.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

If its been leaking for sometime, check your stringers. Mine leaked for sometime and the trim oil got in the stringers where the motor mounts attach. I had to lift the motor, cut out the bad wood and reglass the whole thing. It was a major PITA!

 

[boarder]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

Yikes, that sounds rough, Sean at SOS Marine (Sterndrives our Specialty) cute huh, suggested setting the trim at half, blocking the rams with PVC pipe, draining the fluids out and putting duct tape on the tilt control on the accelerator. The 350 Chev has enough umph, particularily on my style of low profile to do everything with the trim set in the middle.. Seems a a little H.A. and it was partly in jest,but maybe that not such a bad idea.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

Sounds like afro technology to me. Forget that, do it right. It is not that hard to fix this. Run the rams all the way up (trim all the way DOWN). Put a 2X4 under the dapper on the motor. Actually use two lying on each other to be safe, this is what I did. Then run trim (UP - engine will lower) and this will lower the motor on the 2X4(s). Then you can easily remove the rams and motor mounts. Then you need an impact wrench to get the nut off the ram piston shaft. If you don't have one, no big deal. Take the ram to an auto parts store, they will have one and will knock them off for you. Then take it apart, again its no big deal. Replace the seals. You do not need an impact wrench to tighten the piston nut. Just torque to specs and reinstall. You want your trim to work fully not fixed in the middle position.

 

[boarder]

Re: Stringer hydraulic rams

Yeah, good call, when the sun sets or the water all runs out of California, I will tackle these, you may see some follow ups from me then.