Swimplatform hydraulic exchange

[Njlarry]

One of the main lift rams has a bad seal. Hauling the boat for weeks in season is not an option. Wondering if there is anyplace that can send rebuilt rams with core exchange, then I send my old ram in. Repair could then be done in a day.
GHS is not answering the phone so they sadly are not a possibility.

 

[FootballFan]

Went through a rebuild on my swim platform last year.

GHS only sells new lift cylinders.

Rebuilds can be done in some situations by shops which work with hydraulic systems. Not every cylinder can be rebuilt, depends on the condition of the components on whether a seal kit will fix it.

My challenge was the wait time at the places (that I would trust) was 3-4 weeks before they would tear it down to see if it could be rebuilt or not. If it could not be rebuilt, then I had to get in line for new.

For someone who knows what they are doing and have the correct tools - a new seal kit can be put installed in a couple of hours. However my past experience with hydraulic systems from my days on the farm has taught me this is not a do-it-yourself project - especially the first time you are rebuilding one.

I decided I wanted to replace with new components, so that is the route I took. I think lead time on the new cylinders was 5-7 weeks. Highly recommend that the hoses be replaced when doing anything in the area. Not that expensive and they are a failure item after some age.

Once you have the replacement cylinder in hand, replacing with new hoses is a couple of hours.

 

[45Gunner]

Well, it happened. Came to the boat one morning and the hydraulic swim platform was not level. I leveled it with the remote fob and thought that was the end of it. A couple of times during the day the platform looked as though it was slowly lowering by itself and when I pulled back into my slip, there was a sheen on the water that could only be hydraulic fluid, which would be leaking from one of the two hydraulic pistons, or possibly both. I got sick and had to leave the boat for several months. When I got back to it, the platform looked like it had been out all night on a bender. Boat was due for new bottom paint so I had it hauled at a boatyard only to find they no longer work on hydraulic swim platforms. Ironic that the last time I was at that boatyard a SeaRay was coming into the yard with a failed swim platform which the yard was going to repair. Called a place that does the work and they wanted nearly $600 just to come out and analyze the problem. Now I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination but I'm pretty sure the seals on the pistons were shot. I have an excellent mechanic but it takes days, sometimes weeks for him to get to my boat. He finally came to my boat and agreed the piston seals are shot and that he could take them to his shop and rebuild them. It took three guys and a fork lift to get the platform off the mounts but it's off and the pistons are in the shop. Stay tuned. He says he'll have it back together in two working days. He's very reasonably priced and I am holding my breath as what this is going to cost.

 

[PlayDate]

Well, it happened. Came to the boat one morning and the hydraulic swim platform was not level. I leveled it with the remote fob and thought that was the end of it. A couple of times during the day the platform looked as though it was slowly lowering by itself and when I pulled back into my slip, there was a sheen on the water that could only be hydraulic fluid, which would be leaking from one of the two hydraulic pistons, or possibly both. I got sick and had to leave the boat for several months. When I got back to it, the platform looked like it had been out all night on a bender. Boat was due for new bottom paint so I had it hauled at a boatyard only to find they no longer work on hydraulic swim platforms. Ironic that the last time I was at that boatyard a SeaRay was coming into the yard with a failed swim platform which the yard was going to repair. Called a place that does the work and they wanted nearly $600 just to come out and analyze the problem. Now I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination but I'm pretty sure the seals on the pistons were shot. I have an excellent mechanic but it takes days, sometimes weeks for him to get to my boat. He finally came to my boat and agreed the piston seals are shot and that he could take them to his shop and rebuild them. It took three guys and a fork lift to get the platform off the mounts but it's off and the pistons are in the shop. Stay tuned. He says he'll have it back together in two working days. He's very reasonably priced and I am holding my breath as what this is going to cost.

Those cylinders are maybe two hours of labor to rebuild...... each. The hardest part is getting the right seals in the first place and then getting them on the piston. I have to boil the suspended piston seals in water for 10 minutes to get them to cooperate (I'm sure they have a tool or machine for doing that at a factory). The wiper and ram seals are easy to install and those are the seals that usually fail.

The only hitch is if the cylinder or ram is scored. That requires a new unit.

Depending on what type of water you are in.....seals will go 5-7 years in salt water and 8-10 in fresh water. It helps to use the platform more often.