trim piston removal

[lennymoe]

Any tips on removing the pins that hold the tilt and trim pistons in place? I can't get them to budge.

 

[RRitt]

Re: trim piston removal

Bottom:
put a nut on end to minimize mushrooming. whack the snot out of it. after it starts budging right-left-right-left get a grinder and taper ends of shaft then drive on out. If you can't get it to budge then get a sawzall and saw the shaft
off each end of trim housing.

top:
turn rubber into swiss cheese with drill bit. clean out rubber remains. pry aluminum collar off SS shaft using flathead. shaft should come out once free from bushings.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: trim piston removal

Quoting RRitt, "Whack the snot out of it" is right. Following RRitt's advice, I had to dig a little deeper. Using brass as a drive pin to save the shaft, I used a three pound, short handled sledge hammer. Whacked the shi-feces (a little deeper) out of it until I got a little movement. Pb blaster and back and forth whacks did it. Frustrating but satisfying upon success. Good luck.

 

[RRitt]

Re: trim piston removal

if it was me ... i wouldn't even mess with it. Two whacks with a hammer and then out comes the sawzall. If the bottom shaft is fused then you've got a 50/50 chance that the cover bolts will break and a 60-40 chance that the sleeve will have to be machined out.

Your woes are only just beginning. The last thing I want to do is spend 4 hours fighting to get a DOA trim housing off a boat. If you start going down that road then you'll end up spending 24-40 hours rebuilding just that one system. Saltwater will suck down enough of your time without you giving it away.

put the sawzall blade between the transom clamp and the trim housing. do not cut into the clamp. if you have to shave off some aluminum then take it off the trim housing. get the good blades and change them frequently. $10 in blades or four hours in time? is your time worth $2.50 an hour?

 

[lennymoe]

Re: trim piston removal

OK so lets say I sawzall the shaft off. Where do I get a replacement shaft for this thing that was made in 1984?

 

[RRitt]

Re: trim piston removal

go to local machine shop and ask them to cut you about 12" piece of 5/8" SS rod. Drill a cotter pin hole in each end. Or you could mail order it off internet. Either way, about $10.

 

[lennymoe]

Re: trim piston removal

$10??? Sawzall here I come!