Alpha One Gen 1 Trim Wire Retainer

jr88fan

Seaman
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
55
I am all the way down to installing the new trim sender/trim limit on my 1987 Alpha One. I looked at a couple of videos on here for removing the retaining clip where the wires traverse through the gimble housing. I must be missing something because it looks like there is one screw on most of those and mine has one on the bottom and another one on the top. I tried to find a reference in Service Manual 6 but as usual I must be blind.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have everything lined up and ready to reassemble tomorrow if I can figure out how to get that damn retainer out. Would love to make a test run at the lake before Memorial Day weekend just in case it sinks!
 

Fun Times

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
9,126
Re: Alpha One Gen 1 Trim Wire Retainer

Hi there, older models do have two bolts while newer models have just one.

The top bolt is next to impossible to remove with the u-joint bellows assembly installed.

Is everything already reinstalled?
 
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jr88fan

Seaman
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
55
Re: Alpha One Gen 1 Trim Wire Retainer

Everything is still apart and you are correct that bolt is a PITA.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Alpha One Gen 1 Trim Wire Retainer

Everything is still apart and you are correct that bolt is a PITA.

No it's not.Just use a 7/16" ring spanner....

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jr88fan

Seaman
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
55
Re: Alpha One Gen 1 Trim Wire Retainer

I finally did go to the auto parts store and bought a set of these wrenches yesterday and was able to get it off. The previous person probably had the same problem because they spliced the wires outside of the transom. I am lucky I did not have any issues with the trim in the past two years because whoever did it used crimp connectors and only put a shrink tube on two of the four wires. Thanks for all the help and now I will be working on putting it all back together today. Weather is Western PA is supposed to be great today so that is a bonus.

I also want to take a few minutes the thank all of you who spend your time on this forum to help amateurs like me. All in including tools (that I might sell on ebay) and the parts to replace just about everything that is replaceable I am about $425. The marina told me about $2000 so you guys have saved me a ton of money! I also don't think the marina would have cleaned and painted everything the way I did so that would have cost me more money also.

I also learned quite a bit in the process and would feel comfortable doing this job again (if I had to). I know now that it's pretty simple to pull the outdrive and check the bellows on my own and since reading some of these forums I have learned that I should do that at least once a year just to inspect everything.

I know a lot of people take you guys for granted and you definitely do not get the credit you deserve! Thank you all very much!
 

Fun Times

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
9,126
Re: Alpha One Gen 1 Trim Wire Retainer

Thanks Keith, the nice thing about all the iboats members is we do like to help where we can as a combined team to help make things go as smoothly as possible while working on your boat at home.:)

Here's to a good running boat this year.:tea:
 
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