Need help with my tilt and trim

[midnight1957]

Hi, I have a 21 foot pontoon with a 40 hp Mercury motor and they work great together but this weekend I had a problem.
When I trimmed my motor for best performance it would not stay up, it would go back down to vertical and made my pontoon plow in the water. I was running hard but going very slow.
If I stopped and trimmed it up it would stay until I started moving again and then the same thing.
Has anyone else had this problem, could it be that the cylinder needs rebuilding or could something be broken.
Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Wade

[PlaynDoc]

Viagra. Sunset cruise with your wife. Maybe some wine, and some Barry White.
That should keep it up.

[GregF]

First thing, check the oil level.

[badmoonrising]

Check the fluid level and condition - milky = water intrusion. If the fluid is full, look for fluid leaks. Trim ram o-rings are the usual culprit.

[GregF]

I have been in a trim cylinder. Don't do it unless you have done some hydraulics before. To start with, that little bag of "O" rings and seals is about $100. You sure don't want to screw one up (BTDT)

Make sure you have a place that is "operating room" clean to work.

I went to a butcher shop and had the guy spool me off some of that plastic backed white paper they use. I covered my workbench with that.
It makes it easy to see all of those little parts that fall out.

On the second pass I got my old Mariner back together and working.
I was able to match up the damaged O ring at Ace Hardware without buying another kit.
I still never really figured out which one was bad but they all had some degree of wear.

[Kim in FL]

Viagra. Sunset cruise with your wife. Maybe some wine, and some Barry White.
That should keep it up.

Darn! I almost spit out my wine!

Doc, you're a bad boy..

[PlaynDoc]

Doc, you're a bad boy..

I'm only bad when I'm off my meds!