Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

[HVAC Cruiser]

My Trim switch Gimbal wiring is shot, but the switches are still good. This morning I went out and bought new bellows,gimbal bearing etc to rebuild the transom assembly (Alpha I ) I took her apart figuring I would figuring a regular grommet where the trim sensor wires go through the gimbal WRONG, it looks like RTV black fused to the wires. Yep I'm a newbe with I/O

My question is this, can I put it back together, fill the cup where the wires go through with RTV black, wait for it to solidify and tighten down the 2-7/6 bolts like you do with gaskets to squash/but pressure on it, or is there a special grommet to use??????

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

OK, I just re-read manual #6 All it says is to install wires "do not pinch" and torque screws to 90-100# Do the wires typically come with the grommet in place for it says nothing about it.

Maybe I should ask a different Question, I don't want to sink cause of a bad or deteriorated seal on the wires. Will salt water deteriorate 3m RTV black, should I use 4200 instead??? Forget just replacing Just the wires and buy the switch kit? Someone please throw me a bone here

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

Do the wires typically come with the grommet in place for it says nothing about it.

Yes, that is why the senders come as a kit. Both the TL switch and gauge sender. Each one has half of the grommet. And don't try to put in only one new and one old, it will leak.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

Yes, that is why the senders come as a kit. Both the TL switch and gauge sender. Each one has half of the grommet. And don't try to put in only one new and one old, it will leak.

Thanks for replying Don,

So am I correct in assuming I should not try to just replace the bad wiring, I have to buy the sender kit with the wiring? I have plenty of 16/2 marine wire I intended on just replacing the wire. Guess Mercruiser has other ideas, spend $60 to replace $.50 of bad wire huh.. Shoot my budgets tight and wifey is gonna kill me !!!!!!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

If the wires fell apart, there is no way you can repair them. Personally, I would bypass the trim limit switch inside the boat, and pay attention to where the drive is and go boating.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

If the wires fell apart, there is no way you can repair them. Personally, I would bypass the trim limit switch inside the boat, and pay attention to where the drive is and go boating.

That sounds like a plan, yep the wires fell apart they almost look burnt and crispy but I know its only a pot or similar variable resistor. I hate like heck to eliminate it for bad wire. Guess I have to either re-rout the wire or give into Mercruisers planned obsolescence. Had I realized it I would have bought them when I was at the store this morning. I wanted to put the engine in tomorrow but its a heck of a lot easier working on my bench than sitting on dirt in the back yard

Thanks again Don for your help and advise I really appreciate it

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

I did one myself over 10 years ago. when my budget for boating was about $10 a week.... I carefully cut the old wire out of the grommet halves and installed lamp cord.... I then spent hours attaching the lamp cord to the old switch and sender. I used a vary small ammount of silicone on the wires where they were in the grommet and tightened down.... I used that boat for a few years and a friend of mine is still using it today...
Today there is NO WAY I would half ***** something that way... not because it can't be done but rather because it took so much time and effort and with the advances in the internet the new parts can be purchased for a fraction of the $250 my local mercruiser dealer was gonna charge me at the time....

It is possible but it would be VERY easy to screw it up and sink your boat and I wouldn't recomend it....

The switch and sender are not built to be servicable and likely not long for this world anyway so your best bet is to nip it in the bud and replace now if you want them there or just omit them, bypass the limit switch and put a clock where the guage is

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

Thanks All for your help,

I'm gonna break down and spend the $70 on new switches today and quit messing with it. After all this work it would be a heck of a thing to have the boat wind up on the bottom of the Atlantic over $70

 

[xr_dude]

Re: Trim Switch Gimbal Wiring

This is great news for me!!!. I was just given an 84 sea-ray that sat in a field for 8 years and it needs a ton of work. I am in the middle of a full bellows replacement and had the same problem with the trim wires being "burnt up". I do not have a gauge on the dash so i am going to assume that i do not need to replace all that mess. is that what i am reading???

While on the topic of bellows do i really need the bellows replacement tool???

Thank you for your help.