Just noticed the other day that I have a leak in my tilt/trim. I have a 2002 90 Merc 2 stroke. The leak is coming out of the top of my hydraulic cylinder. Here is a pic. in case I am saying it the wrong way.
I have a couple questions…Are there seals that can be replaced, or do I have to replace the entire thing? I read on another forum where someone suggested adding power steering fluid with stop leak. I know you can’t trust everything you read so I would like to hear your opinions before I go and screw something up. Where do I get hydraulic fluid so I can top off until I can get it into Chris V. Unless I can try the stop leak first. I have to take it in to get carbs adjusted sometime soon anyway! Thanks as always for all your help.
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
The seals can be replaced. As long as it is operating, tilting up and down, you are good to go until you can get it in to get it fixed. You need to be more concerned about whether it can go up because gravity will always help it go down. You can use ATF(automatic transmission fluid) to top it off until you get it in and would recommend it over stop leak.
Thats the rod gland seal. It will not affect going up, unless you run out of oil from the leak. Easy to replace the seal, but getting the pin out of the clevis is a problem sometimes.
Thank you guys so much for all of your help. I am definitely going to let the guys at Charleston Marine handle the seals. Not sure when he can fit me in. Until then I will just add ATF…I know I have to trim it all the way up to add the ATF, but how do I get the ATF in the pump? Doesn’t look like I can just pour it in there! Thanks
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
had same problem last year on 1995 force 120. ended up replacing tilt trim unit because i cross threaded the plastic cap and got plastic in the unit. bought the motor used about 2003 knowing it had a small leak. used it for years adding fluid but over time i obviously wasn’t careful to avoid cross threading which eventually led bigger problem. i don’t like the plastic plugs.
you probably dont want any advice i could give about motors of any type. the fluid i used was in a squeeze tube so i could fill and get plug back on quick withhout loosing too much. that was probably my problem area because i probably rushed it and cross threaded. trim eventually got clogged. because of age, mine and the motor, i replaced with new to cut the headaches.
I give that same warning when I give advice about motors! Thanks for offering though, I appreciate it. Surely there is something or some way that makes it easy to do.
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
When I add it I use a pump that you screw onto a bottle of tilt/trim fluid or ATF or whatever (looks like a pump that is on a bottle of hand soap with a clear plastic tube coming off of the pump). Remove the plug on the resevoir, screw the tube from the pump and pump away until full. Reverse process and you are on your way!
To add fluid, on my old Johnson (merc is probably similar)…
remove reservoir plug.
fill reservoir with new fluid as far as it will take it.
replace reservoir plug.
cycle trim/tilt all the way up and down a few times to get bubbles out of the system and into the reservoir.
remove plug.
top off reservoir with fluid.
replace plug.
If you still have little popping or crackling noises, when you operate the t/t, go through the above again. 'Shouldn’t take more that 10 minutes, start to finish.
Sounds good. I will try to fill it up tonight so I can shrimp this weekend, and hopefully hear back from Chris V. on when I can bring it in. Thanks again for all the help
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
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