can't identify stern drive?

S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
First off I love this site,have had my questions answered just by reading other posts,you guys are great!!I recently bought a 83 Baja 190TO sportjet w/ 350 gm mcm 260 #6356454.as the tag on inide of boat suggests (sportjet?)sounds like jet drive right?well its not its a merc(has prop and is a reg. stern drive)ok,i have seloc book and trying to read the ser. # is impossible at this point due to paint.do i absolutely need to have them or is there some other way.i need to change the zinc and trim limit switch i believe is bad.i have pics but cant figure out how to resize them.engine is merccruiser...any info is greatly appreciated thanx
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

gonna try some pics...
 

Attachments

  • picresized_th_1208142937_Picture_218.jpg
    picresized_th_1208142937_Picture_218.jpg
    34.5 KB · Views: 0
Don S

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: can't identify stern drive?

Alpha I outdrive
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

Thanks Don,I'm having same problem... no up on tilt/trim but have down & the trailer switch will raise also.i think i've got it isolated to the tilt/trim limt switch anything special(not in seloc)with replcing that?i've seen other posts where the trim gauge not worrking(which mine does not)are pricey to fix and you don't really need them
 
Last edited:
C

cheburashka

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 28, 2005
Messages
715
Re: can't identify stern drive?

In my experience, the trim limit switches tend to go out a lot. When that happens, the trailer switch works fine. If you're careful, you can use it for trim as well. I've been using mine that way for two years now.
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

yeah,im' scared to use the trailer button i've thats not a good idea
 
ziggy

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: can't identify stern drive?

my trim limit ain't never worked, only trailer, use it all the time that way..... just use a shade of judgement.....
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

so i guess it's not that big a deal.i think i'll feel safer if i fix it though.i noticed that i have a frayed wire in the circuit;it seems as i follow the wires where they go thru the transom there is another two wires that go at the same location(would these be the wires to trim gauge?)those are the ones that are frayed
 
Haut Medoc

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: can't identify stern drive?

sparky71 said:
so i guess it's not that big a deal.i think i'll feel safer if i fix it though.i noticed that i have a frayed wire in the circuit;it seems as i follow the wires where they go thru the transom there is another two wires that go at the same location(would these be the wires to trim gauge?)those are the ones that are frayed
Click to expand...
Yup!....;)
 
cbear34

cbear34

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
144
Re: can't identify stern drive?

I just replaced mine. The switches only come as a set, when you take it apart you'll see why. Mercruiser is the only maker of the switches:(. You have to pull the drive to do it. You might as well do the transom rubber service and of course the lower shift cable. I wondered why the lower shift cable was suggested until I did the job and found out.:rolleyes: Now my trim limit and trim gauge work.:)
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

what, pull the driv??on mine there is more than enough room to get at it just turn the outdrive all the way to one side...same thing on other side just turn trim sender,just turn to other side.what am i missing?
 
cbear34

cbear34

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
144
Re: can't identify stern drive?

On the new switches the wiring is part of the switch. You replace the wiring with the switch which means to remove the wiring you need to access the bolts which hold the wires in the transom. The wiring runs to the harness in the boat and you just plug it in. My trim limit switch the insulation on the wiring was deteriorated so I had to replace the switch. Water got inside of the limit switch which is why it did not work, corrosion.:( If you have to replace the switch and order a new kit you will see why you can not "pull" the wires. The wiring "joins" together to seal at the transom, which is held in by a ring bracket with 2 bolts.
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

would those frayed wires (previous post)cause the limit switch not to work right i,e fix wires problem solved?
 
cbear34

cbear34

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
144
Re: can't identify stern drive?

Maybe, you could try it. Are the frayed wires in the boat or outside where water will get in to the switch? You could take the switch off and see if you have internal corrosion. That's what I did to find out the limit switch was no good. The sender works on resistance so I don't know how shortening the wires will affect the gauge. Not that the gauge really matters.
 
Don S

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: can't identify stern drive?

2 of us posted a link to the Service manual, why don't you go thru the tests, then you will know what works and what doesn't.
And to answer your question, yes, frayed wires can prevent it from working if frayed bad enough.
 
S

sparky71

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
102
Re: can't identify stern drive?

ok its kinda chilly here today but i went out with all my new info and can see exactly what my prob is.same as cbear.the 8-10" of wire on outside look ok except the very end where it enters switchtook it all apart cleaned it up and now it works,then i ran out of batt(not been charged all winter have new one to install)so hope fully sw is still good.do you think i can re-insulate/waterproof and be ok?the other frayed wires i referred to come thru transom(on inside)go up over the motor and attach near the circuit breaker.
 
cbear34

cbear34

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
144
Re: can't identify stern drive?

Sounds like you have the original sender. You can probably seal it and be o.k. Try it and if not you know what you have to do. As far as the frayed wires, don't know how bad the fraying is but you can try to solder the wiring and seal the insulation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top