trim ram pins...how tight?

[johnzonh]

hey guys... been through many posts and youtube videos..just wondering how tight the joints should be for trim rams (alpha one gen one) I am doing a bellows job and am almost ready to put things back together...just noticed that the pins are tight enough to make me wonder how loose that joint should be, (transom and on the drive) also...grease? or no grease? Haven't seen a lot of reference for this even in my #6 manual. The boat has seen salt water and the PO never replaced the gimbal bearing (you can imagine how much garbage I had to clean out of this drive and bell housing) or water hose or ujoint bellows. what fun.

thanks, john

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you mean the shafts where the rams mount, they should be loose/removable from the housings.
If there corroded in place ,then some grease on the bushings during install cant hurt, and tighten the nuts until they bottom out.

 

[johnzonh]

ok will do. the rear pin at the drive wasn't bad but the lower pin is pretty tight. I will give it a good cleaning and a bit of grease. The rubber bushings are still in good shape

 

[Bt Doctur]

Whatever you do DO NOT HAMMER on the shaft, you will break the housing. Best removal if your replacing them is to cut it flush, center pilot drill, and drill to the correct size.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I wouldn't loose any sleep over the forward pin bein' to tight in the housin',....

I can't remember the last time I had to totally remove the forward pin,...
The aft pin, needs to be fairly free,...

 

[johnzonh]

Noted. I just didn't want my pump working any harder than it had to. Thanks guys!