Water in Bravo III trim fluid

[Lucrative]

Discovered water in the trim fluid after it started acting funny when trying to trim it up/down. Trying to figure out where the leaks usually come from in these and if it's something that is just a matter of changing seals, or something else. Anyone know where to start on this?

 

[alldodge]

Water in the trim system come from three areas, lines, manifold or cylinder seals. If your lines are not rusted or corroded, or manifold connection on bottom of transom assembly, I would look for the shaft seal on the cylinder.

 

[Fun Times]

And sometimes depending on the trim oil reservoir "Cap" design, water could run/drip down from the topside and leak on/into the small vent hole on top of the yellow cap. The possible excessive water could come from places such as rain or someone coming out of the water from swimming, etc..

The new cap design doesn't have the hole on top reducing this small possibility of a problem.
The new design part number is 36-865448A01, http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...48A01&_sacat=0
The old cap design part number was 36-18526,

 

[MarkSee]

When I had my Maxum I also got water in the trim system and found that it was one of the exterior hoses that was leaking.
It was actually easy to find which hose as I stored the boat on a trailer so I had my son operating the trim while I was looking at each of the hoses and could see fluid coming out of the hose.

I decided to just replace all the exterior hoses right then as that made sense and only have to purge all the bad fluid out once instead of multiple times if another hose leaked.

Mark

 

[Lucrative]

So, I'm thinking it's coming from the cylinder seal....I have the cap w/ no vent already on there, the lines look good and everything on the transom is pretty rust free at this point. Are the cylinders the same as on the Alpha?? I can't find anything on a bravo, but there are 2 youtube videos on cylinder rebuilds for alpha one gen 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltUDVgzB-Qs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK-mX7x5GNw

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I think you'll find the Bravo rams are bigger, but built the same,.....

I hear SEI is offerin' replacements, but ain't looked it up,.....

Do ya see oil weapage at the gland seals,..??

 

[Lucrative]

I don't actually see oil on the rams, but water beads up on them when they are extended. I've gotten it out of the water on the trailer and trimmed it up and down a few times to try and see if I could locate any type of leak, but there was no obvious leak.

 

[alldodge]

Remember to check the manifold which is under the Mercathode

 

[Lucrative]

Hey AllDodge, I checked the mainifold by having my son trim up and down a bunch and it no fluid appears to be leaking from there. It doesn't look at all rusty, either, so I'm thinking that I'm ok on that front. Since there's no obvious area of concern, I'm still leaning towards a seal issue. Do the seals on the rams tend to go bad often?

 

[alldodge]

Do the seals on the rams tend to go bad often?

They don't go bad often but they are what causes water intrusion more often then any other part

 

[Lucrative]

OK, so this is what I need, right? http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...&gd_poid=110543&gd_row=9&session_id=625593751

 

[alldodge]

The Merc part number of the seal kit is 25-87400A2 and it appears the one in your link is the Sierra part. It should work

 

[Lucrative]

Closing up the topic. I rebuilt both rams with the seal kits and flushed out the system. Oh my freaking goodness, that was a pain in the butt. Took about 12 qts of 10-w 30 to get it running clear through the system and rams again. Upon taking the cylinder caps off, I could see how badly corroded the washers where the seals were. After the rebuild, it has been running clear. Thanks again, everyone. Another issue solved!

 

[Lucrative]

AAAAAnnnnnd re-opening the topic :facepalm:. Ugh. It ran clear for about 2 or 3 times out, but it has since turned milky again. Some of my fluid lines are frayed and I'm thinking that's the next step. Does that make sense to go there next? I can't seem to locate a part number for a replacement set of lines. Anyone know if they sell a set of replacement lines?

 

[alldodge]

Here is the parts brake down for the early Bravo drive
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/s.../30966/952/120

If you know your drive serial number just pick it from this list.
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/bravo-one

Oh and while I used the B1 the B3 are the same

 

[Lucrative]

K, so I'm going to replace the trim lines. Should I replace the manifold while I'm doing that? Not sure how big of a deal it is to do that. Looks like the part is 98825A4, right?

 

[alldodge]

That part will work but the new part number is now 8M0080805

Nothing wrong with replacing it, but if it looks good it can be reused, just need a new gasket. If your replacing the lines on the inside, you will need to remove the manifold to do it

 

[Bondo]

Should I replace the manifold while I'm doing that? Not sure how big of a deal it is to do that.

Ayuh,..... How corroded is it,..??

If little, it's a piece a cake job, ditto changin' the lines, inside or out,.....

Gettin' things Apart is 80% of the job,.....