I have a 250 HPDI that started making a god awful screeching sound when trimming up and down. I noticed it about a week ago after trailering home from Toledo Bend. It's not the lower ram contacts, and didn't have air in the lines. I noticed when I bled a little air out if the lines that the oil was a little grey, just a little. I tried lower the rams, kicked the stand down and retracted the lower rams, and lubed the rams. When retracting lower rams, one would retract before the other, but no noise. When I switched the stand off and lowered the unit, the noise started again. If I had to guess, not being a mechanic, I would say that the main ram is bent or the bushings are toast where it mounts to the motor on top.

Anyone have this problem or can shed some light on what it might me. Again, the noise is a similar to when a deck screw is slowly drilled into a board, accept louder and more ear penetrating. It can't be good.... Anyone?

I have a video on my phone, but can't get it to load. My Yamaha mechanic told me a few things to do but they didn't work. Looking for an idea of what it is or I'm gonna have to take it in.

Thanks in advance!

try lubing the top of the ram and where it contacts the motor

No dice. But I believe I have isolated it to this part.

Grey colored oil is never good. water

Nope. Sure ain't. I can usually take care of the small stuff, but this ones got me stumped. Gonna let the experts deal with this one.

The gray oil can also be from metal contamination from wear in the trim or tilt cylinders.