www.iFourWinns.com

Back Again! 1986 Horizon 19' with 4.3 ltr engine. Just replaced my water pump (thanks for the help on that). Now my outdrive which was working prior, is stuck in the down position. The switch is working (i can hear the pump turn on) but it does not move. How can I determine if the hydrolic pump is bad or maybe a defective hose. The starboard hydrolic hose connector looks a bit worn. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks, Terry

Assuming your reservoir is full of hydraulic fluid.

Is this correct?

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

As simple as that sounds, I'll check that, but I had to unhook the hydraulic line to manually raise the lower unit. I did notice some oil on the surface when I put her into the water prior to having this problem.

If it is the hydraulic lines, how difficult is it to replace these?

The external hoses are relatively easy to replace. I'd bet that one of them needs replacing and that is why you saw fluid out there. Would also bet that your reservoir is low or empty if that leak exists where it sounds like it is at.

The rule I've always heard is to replace them at the same time but they are not cheap so keep a close eye on them if you just do them one at a time.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Thanks Paul for the information. As a 1st time boat owner, the saying is so true about throwing money into a hole in the water!

Count on me coming back for more information.
Terry

Don't know if you'll be able to tell, but replace all of the hoses if you have a leak and can afford to do it. If you are not the original owner you have no idea if they are the original hoses. If they are, they don't have much life left in them.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Update....Found the problem to be with the starboard lift cylinder which (from previous owner) had stripped the threads into the cylinder and ended up Epoxy-ing the hydraulic hose in. They also bypassed the both hoses and ran them directly through the transom into the trim pump. What a mess!

Anyway have to purchase a new cylinder. Any suggestions of where I can get a reasonable price on one?
Thanks again
Terry

Terry, have you made any headway on this? I have an 89 245 Vista with the same problem.

I was told the lines were "OK" but the pump/manifold needed to be replaced and in order to do so they needed to remove the whole engine to get to it.

I have no hydraulic fluid left (it all slowly drained out).

Moving in a forward direction is fine. When I put her in reverse, the outdrive naturally wants to flip up and it puts pressure on the hydraulic and squeezes out fluid (until it's gone). Now I'm concerned of safety issues.... If I'm idling in reverse, she seems OK and the drive stays put. But if I tap up the RPM a little if the wind catches me, the drive starts to flip up (there's nothing holding it in the down position).

When I back into the slip I look like the Exxon Valdez and it's friggin embarrassing....... but I don't want to shell out the $1100 for the repair.

Horrible engineering on 80's boats.

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Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

People that use JB weld scare me.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

Go to a hydraulics shop and see if they can do anything for you.
There are used parts places online just search for it.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

If a hydraulic hose is not leaking, it is not the problem. And even with a small leak it should still work. It might need replacing, but that is a separate issue. My guess is an issue with the pump, maybe you will get lucky and it is just the fluid level.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop