Trim piston misalignment

[robbyt]

I just encountered a trim piston misalignment problem for the second time on a different engine - Force 1987 125. Problem is that the trim actuator is mounted on a cross-member that can rotate. If if rotates out of position, then the trim piston misses the pad on the motor leg. The fix is rotating the cross-member back into postion, which challenging while the engine is on the boat because there isn't an easy way to get any torque on it (and, yes, I did first loosen the nuts that lock it into position).

Is this a known problem? What causes it? I haven't heard others talk about it, and a local boat shop charged me $300 and never figured it out. It is simple to diagnose and fix once you understand it, but it doesn't seem to be well known.

Thanks

 

[RRitt]

Re: Trim piston misalignment

Over the years the trim probably dug a pit in the hull allowing the housing to rotate on shaft. A sheet of aluminum between engine and transom should fix that part of it. If it ran for long like that then it probably buggerred up the swivel bracket strike plate as well.