Need advice on hydraulic fittings for Merc trim pump
I'm looking for advice on hydraulic hose fittings for my Mercruiser trim pump hoses:
As built by Rinker in 2007, the hydraulic hoses from the trim pump to the outdrive had a 90 degree bend at the pump. I'm installing new transom assemblies, and the hoses have a 45 degree bend. Unfortunately, the hoses don't clear the steering gear.
The pump has 1/4" Parker ST Series quick-release fittings. A male-to-female fitting with a 45 or 90 deg bend would work, but I can't find one. Do I need to find a local outfitter and make custom adapters? Surely somebody on this forum has tackled this problem.
As built by Rinker in 2007, the hydraulic hoses from the trim pump to the outdrive had a 90 degree bend at the pump. I'm installing new transom assemblies, and the hoses have a 45 degree bend. Unfortunately, the hoses don't clear the steering gear.
The pump has 1/4" Parker ST Series quick-release fittings. A male-to-female fitting with a 45 or 90 deg bend would work, but I can't find one. Do I need to find a local outfitter and make custom adapters? Surely somebody on this forum has tackled this problem.
Comments
2008 350 EC
Georgian Bay
I'm gonna try putting a 1/8" NPT elbow between the pump body and the quick-release. The problem is that when I screw the elbow into the pump body, it might end up at some angle that I can't use. But I'll try it.
I definitely can't reuse the old hoses. One of them ruptured, which is the event that led me to replace the transom assemblies. I could buy new ones, but as I said, that would be a huge amount of work.
Extruded 45° street elbow | Pipe fittings - brass | Fairview (fairviewfittings.com)
Plan B: I bought a mini pipe bender ($20 overnight on Amazon). I have four scrap hose fittings from the old transoms, so I'll practice on them. If it works, and if I'm brave enough, I'll try bending the new ones from 45 to 90.
Take it from someone that has several pipe benders and use to bend RF hardlines for radars.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
7/16-20 SAE
7/16-20 UN/UNF
7/16-20 MS Straight Thread
1/8" O-ring boss
1/8" ORB
All I need is a 45 elbow male (one of the above) to female (one of the above), but I can't find one.
@Dream_Innyou see why I'm hoping the pipe bender will work. I have four practice attempts to convince myself it's safe. It would have been so much easier if Merc didn't change the hose configuration.
I got the mini tube bender and tested it on the two scrap fittings. It worked perfectly -- nice, smooth bends with no kinking or any sign of any distress to the metal. The tool is small enough to make a bend very close to the fitting. So I bent the new hoses, and I'm gonna call it success.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express