One of the most common outboard motor repair issues that marine techs face is replacing the seals on the hydraulic power tilt and trim system. The tilt ram is the cylinder that raises and lowers your motor (typically used when you are taking your boat in or out of the water). There are two trim rods that allow you to adjust your outboard’s thrust and angle to maximize performance when you are driving the boat.
When boaters are having trouble keeping their motor at the desired angle, or they notice hydraulic fluid leaking, it could mean that the seals around the rods are corroded and in need of replacement. This can be a cumbersome and difficult job – unless you have the right tools. Here are three of the top trim/tilt wrenches that marine techs depend on when they need to tackle the power tilt and trim system.
Marine Tech Tools Outboard Trim/Tilt Pin Wrench Set
This hydraulic pin wrench set fits a wide range of outboard brands including Yamaha, Suzuki, Johnson, Evinrude Hydraulic Trim/Tilt end caps and all Seastar Hydraulic Steering end caps. This set has a slew of 5-star reviews on Amazon, and many experienced marine techs say that this set worked when others failed.
Outboard Specialty Tools Tilt Trim Wrench Kit OST-0048
This kit includes OST-0023 Universal Spanner, OST-0003 Tilt Piston Spanner, and OST-0013 38mm Yamaha/SeaStar Spanner. It also offers a four-pin design, offering better balance and torque distribution which translates into fewer damaged end caps and easier tear down/rebuild. Available at outboardst.com.
Bonbo Outboard Trim/Tilt Pin Wrench with Pins + Power Trim Tilt Seals Kit
This wrench features four pins to engage caps and prevent breakage, has a 200 ft-lb minimum pin strength, and fits all Showa-manufactured Trim/Tilt Units for Yamaha, Honda, Evinrude, Suzuki, and Johnson. It also comes with a variety of seals for easy replacement. Available on Amazon.
Check out J-Tech
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