No Trailer and Trim Up

[peters715]

This is a common issue, however my gear is uncommon and the recommendations don't apply.

69 Star Chief with Mercruiser 120. Unlike later versions, this outdrive has a single (travel limiting?) switch inside the gimbal. As the bell housing rotates up it will contact/depress the switch. Later models have switches mounted on both sides of the gimbal for travel control. This one has no such configuration.

The pump works for lowering the drive. But when trimming up or trailering the pump does not run.

I replaced the original push button switches a couple of years ago. Trim and trailer worked before I pulled the motor to do work on transom components.

Anyway, any suggestions/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[peters715]

Update: When I jumper the two wires at the pump that lead to the switch, closing the circuit, trim up and trim down work. Trailer still doesn't work though.

 

[Scott06]

Update: When I jumper the two wires at the pump that lead to the switch, closing the circuit, trim up and trim down work. Trailer still doesn't work though.

Do you have a wiring diagram for your set up?

I know the earlier ones are a bit more complicated... If i recall you have the three button switch where you have to press the upper two to get all the way up? I suspect what ever limits the trim up is bad as well as the switch you just jumpered out. Would suspect trim up is in series with the trim limit switch

 

[peters715]

I do have a wiring diagram and some of it makes sense.

I think the way it is supposed to work is Trim up uses the switch to stop trim travel, and the Trailer switch bypasses the limiting switch. At least this scenario makes sense to me.

The switch is supposed to be normally closed, however this one is normally open and closes when the bell housing contacts it. So the switch is bad. I've found some on ebay but for what they are asking and what is involved in replacing the switch, I'll jumper the wires and wing it for now. When I replace the bellows I'll consider it then.

 

[Scott06]

I do have a wiring diagram and some of it makes sense.

I think the way it is supposed to work is Trim up uses the switch to stop trim travel, and the Trailer switch bypasses the limiting switch. At least this scenario makes sense to me.

The switch is supposed to be normally closed, however this one is normally open and closes when the bell housing contacts it. So the switch is bad. I've found some on ebay but for what they are asking and what is involved in replacing the switch, I'll jumper the wires and wing it for now. When I replace the bellows I'll consider it then.

your description makes sense, but the switch being NO is opposite of way you would think it would work... would think its NC until bellhousing hits it ... I would just jumper it out so the trim up works all the time.

keep it simple and if you pay attention driving it its no issue.

 

[muc]

There were two 3 button switch's. Early models you pushed just one button to trailer. The later required you to push two buttons at the same time to trailer.

You are correct that the switch by the bell housing should be normally closed and open the circuit when the bell housing hits it.

If I remember right there is also a normally closed switch on the reverse lock so you can't try to raise the drive while in reverse and overload the trim pump/reverse lock. Might want to check that switch?

 

[Phillip_333]

This is a common issue, however my gear is uncommon and the recommendations don't apply.

69 Star Chief with Mercruiser 120. Unlike later versions, this outdrive has a single (travel limiting?) switch inside the gimbal. As the bell housing rotates up it will contact/depress the switch. Later models have switches mounted on both sides of the gimbal for travel control. This one has no such configuration.

The pump works for lowering the drive. But when trimming up or trailering the pump does not run.

I replaced the original push button switches a couple of years ago. Trim and trailer worked before I pulled the motor to do work on transom components.

Anyway, any suggestions/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Okay, trim pump electrical diag needed. Grab a multimeter and check power to up solenoid on the power feed side. Then check switched power to the small positive post on the up solenoid while someone is pressing the trailer up button. If power to the solenoid is good, solenoid needs to be replaced. If no power to power feed you have a bad connection to solenoid. If no power to switched power then you have bad connection to pump from the helm, or bad switch at helm

 

[peters715]

I replaced the solenoid a year ago which resolved an intermittent issue with trim in general.

I believe that the switch config required trim up and trailer to be depressed at the same time to trailer.

I jumpered the leads at the pump and now I am able to trim up and trailer.

I'll consider the trim switch a later date. What I would really like is a switch that disables power to the starter when the outdrive is out of operational range.