www.iFourWinns.com

I have an outdrive lift piston (2000-2001 Volvo Penta 5.7 motor) leaking oil. Most likely it needs replacement. Can anyone recommend a 'replacement part' website for such a part? Thanks!

Just rebuilt one (port) of mine and replaced (starboard) the other. My drive ram was pitted. Rebuild kit was $140 (for both) on eBay. New trim ram was $525 from the VP Parts Shop. If the ram isn't pitted, rebuild is the way to go!

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

I rebuilt one of mine last year by buying OMC seal kit # 985060 ($29.95), and a spanner wrench off of Amazon to get the end cap off.

It was very easy to do. I cant believe people pay $250+ for this!

Also, the guy on ebay claims he sells superior seals. How you'd prove that beyond his word, I dont know. I went with the OMC seal kit for $29.99. The originals lasted 16 years so if I get another 16 years out of the OMC seals, Im happy.

_________________
1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Not sure what you read, but I didn't spend $250. Unfortunately, I couldn't find OEM (or Volvo) replacement/rebuild kit for my outdrive. I am happy you found yours as inexpensive as you did.

Good luck, and like was mentioned, rebuilding was fairly easy.

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

That $250 price, is that to replace or repair?
A few years ago I was able to pick up a pair of Cobra trim cylinders that came off a boat that was being repowered with a Merc system, they looked like new, and new ones are not available for Cobras any more. The Volvo SX ones and the Cobra ones look very similar but are not identical.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I didnt read anywhere that you spent $250 nor did I mean to insinuate that you had.

However, in my area (Lake St. Clair, Michigan) when I called around last year to get quotes from local marine mechanics, $250 PER RAM was the going rate... That's insane to me!

I didnt infer from anything you wrote that you paid $250 for the repair; I was simply stating that I cannot believe people (in general - nobody in this thread) pay that much when its so easy to do.




Repair. Or I was offered to buy a new one from the marina for almost $400.

Im a 100% DIY guy. If theres a will, theres a way with me
$30 for the seal kit, another $20 something for the spanner wrench and it took me all of 2 hours from being to finish.

Now I have the spanner wrench in case I need it again.

Carry on.

_________________
1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

I one of my trim cylinders is leaking and I am debating rebuild or replace but I am wondering what exactly do mean when you say the drive ram was pitted?

_________________
2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

The smooth piston that fits inside the cylinder. It wasn't smooth and when I ran my hand along it, I could feel little "holes" or "pits" when it needs to be completely smooth.

The pits made it impossible to keep the cylinder sealed.

Does that make sense?

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

It's just o-rings. Any shop that works on hydraulic cylinders for construction equipment will have them handy. Bring the ram to em, cost under $20.

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Yes it does, thanks!

_________________
2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

Im rebuilding one of my rams right now. I bring the actual stainless steel rod to a local hydraulic repair shop and for $20 they clean it up really nice for me and get the "knuckle" off the end so I can slip new seals on.

Its a VERY easy repair (to rebuild the ram) and sure the heck beats bringing it to a marine mechanic and/or buying a brand new ram!!

$30 for the seal kit + $20 to clean up the piston. 15 minutes to actually disassemble/rebuild/re-assemble. Its a repair I actually dont mind doing. OH, dont forget to put anti-seize on the knuckle threads.

_________________
1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

This may be a stupid question but...where did you order the rebuilt kit from. I left my boat at the shop yesterday. The shop also spoke of rebuilding due to the $400 cost for the leaky ram.

And thats exactly what I was talking about, if you scroll up to the top.... Insane for them to charge that much IMO. Thats what they charge around me too.

If you google the part number (in my case 985060), you can select from various resellers. I dont remember what I paid last time, but I wouldnt spend any more than $35 for the seal kit. You dont even use all the seals, really only 3-4 of them. The rest you toss out (Its a kit made for a few types of rams so they just give all possible seal combinations).

Let me know if you need to know anything else - I even have a spare spanner wrench I'd sell ya for cheap if you want to DIY.

_________________
1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21