www.iFourWinns.com

Ugh, Im having the hardest time this year getting the air out of my port side trim system for the outdrive, after rebuilding the ram!!

The Volvo Penta manual says something like... run the trim up to the max and down to the lowest it will go 5 times, then check the level... well, what are you supposed to do when there is so much air in the system that it wont go up all the way? Oh brother.

So who here has had their power trim system apart/rebuilt their lift rams before, and can help me with some advice to get the air out of it?

Also, I have twin engines and they use the same power trim pump. To check the fluid level, you are supposed to have the outdrive up all the way. Are we talking both outdrives up all the way, or just the one Im trying to get working?! The manual isnt specific and I imagine they mean both outdrives trimmed up.

Either way, last year it wasnt this hard.

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

Air in the cylinders will not keep them from moving, but they would react slowly until the air compresses enough to move the drive. The drive would also be "springy". If your pump is pumping, then the drive WILL move all the way. As the Volvo instructions imply, moving all the way to the stops in both directions will force the air back to the reservoir by replacing it with oil.

If your drive will not move all the way (even with air in the ram cylinders), then there is something wrong with the pump or valves (or low oil level in reservoir).

The only alternative I can think of where the cylinder could be at fault... is if the seals on the piston are missing, and therefore the oil is going right past the piston.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Ok dumb question of the day- no judging me please

Would my twin engined 1997 Four Winns Vista 278 have two separate trim pumps?

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

I am fairly certain the answer is YES, but I have never had a twin engine boat.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Anybody else with a twin engined FW care to chime in? Are there two power trim pumps in the bilge and where?

I only know of the 1 pump located right in the center of the transom, between the engines. Just always assumed because it was "central" it was the pump for both drives.

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

There is in mine.. It may be that the one pump you're looking at is your trim tabs pump? That, I believe, is a single pump for both tabs?..

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

No, the trim tab motor on my boat is mounted on the forward bilge bulkhead. Its also clearly labeled....lol.

Alrighty then, now I feel like a total butthole. Ive been trying to bleed the air out of my port side drive, by topping off my stbd trim pump, thinking they were the same.




Somebody on iboats also suggested that I have to have two pumps. I guess.... lesson learned! Tonight I will eat crow and go searching for my port side trim pump (with little luck FW put it in a total unreachable spot - or a spot where its going to make my arms look like they were run through a wood chipper) In 3 years of ownership, and 3 years of owning a 258 Vista before that, I am (or thought I was) very well versed with my bilge area.

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

I'm not 100% positive, but I think on my setup, the port engine pump is on the port side of that engine, relatively easy to get to, but the starbard engine pump is mounted between the engines (or the port side of the starbard engine), in the back, and not as easy to get to.. Can't say for certain though..

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

Thanks TFD.

Im just embarrassed that I have been in that bilge almost every weekend cleaning, maintaining, sometimes admiring the engines and genset, topping off fluids and/or just checking the quality, and Ive NEVER seen TWO trim pumps!! I dont want to accept the fact that I was wrong

But what you say sounds like it could be the same for my boat.... there is a pump located between two engines. A dumb dumb like myself, would think "The designers put it in the middle of the two outdrives because its the pump for BOTH". Duh. Feel so stupid right now.

On the bright side, my starboard side trim reservoir is DEFINITELY topped off!!

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

Yes there is definatley 2 pumps. Mine is located in the middle for the starboard drive. You had me thinking all day about this one!!!!

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Yep, as everyone has already mentioned - it would seem that each engine/trim pump are exact copies. So that puts one in between the engines! I know I have two because they sound different as well.

Come to think of it, I have no idea where my trim tab pump is - guess I'll have to look for that the next time I'm out at the boat!

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

Well guys, I came home and went right to the boat and located the hiding trim pump!

First off, heres a picture of where the pump is located between my two engines. I originally assumed this was the "main" pump (Knowing nothing about hydraulics, except how to rebuild the ram based on the VP/OMC shop manual):


THIS is why I had never seen the port side trim pump - its located (read: crammed) behind the port side riser:


This is what I used to fill it up (and it took almost a whole quart!!):


After I filled it up, it started working. I bled out more air, topped off, bled out more air. Its now working great!

Thanks for all of the help. Learn something new every day...

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

Glad to hear it worked out. That pump was hidden pretty well.

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings