Hi i have just bought a Parker 31; Number 4 boat name Sizzler. I bought her from the original owner who bought her back in 1988.

I was looking for a lifting keel boat as i have a mooring in Lyme Regis harbour- which dries out. Unfortunately there is one small problem with this boat at the moment- the keel is stuck down.

I intend to replace the entire hydraulic system including the ram, which is completely corroded along with the fixing bolts and collars- looks like everything was in mild steel. My question i put foreword is - has anybody else changed their ram and if so do they have any recollection as to which one they bought? Secondly, fixings holding the ram to the side of the keel box will need replacing, has anyone got experience of that which that can share with me please

regard

Grahame

Hi Grahame, Welcome to the Parker fleet.

You are not the first to have this problem. If you go to Tech Reference on the header you will find many useful entries under Parker 31 / Keel.

If you are not yet a member of the PSSA I would recommend you join as amongst the many benefits you would have access to members contact details. We are a friendly bunch!

Nigel

Parker 235

Thank you Nigel, I have joined the association to enable me to gain access to the wealth of information in the technical section,. It is a gold mine of information, however I haven't found anything specifically about ram spec. as yet.

All the best Grahame

Hi Grahame, I assume a 31 ram is not so different from a 325's and there is lots of useful info on them in the forum. I took mine to Pirtek - our local is in Portsmouth but I believe they have branches everywhere - and they repaired and refurbished it for a few hundred quid. They did say that if it was beyond repair they could easily replace it. I'd whip out the old ram and take it to your nearest hydraulic shop and get their opinion - it may just be seized, or need new seals.

Good luck!

Peter

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Hi Grahame

I own Hunca Munca No10

My cylinder looked like a ball of rust.

The most concerning thing, was the chrome was failing around the top of the rod, causing the seals to start to leak.

Over winter I removed the cylinder.

The cylinder clevis was also worn out. The bolt had spent its life spinning in the clevis, making the holes oval. With one side worse than the other.

I machined a new chrome rod.

And fitted new seals.

These came from amba hydraulics felixstowe

I then fabricated a new clevis, a slightly heavier build compared to the old one. With a fitted stainless pin (instead of a bolt) with a keeper to stop it rotating.

The whole assembly was the sent for blasting and painting at abbey protective coatings.

How has yours failed?

Here’s the final results

[img=https://share.icloud.com/photos/0deJacMGqPKemqiZ8Yzc-weKQ]New and old clevis[/img]

[img=https://share.icloud.com/photos/0aeUXDyPue-ni2hzqbw_MSm3A]New cylinder in place[/img]

[img=https://share.icloud.com/photos/029my0IcTAjFv55yU2REeqLtQ]New clevis[/img]