Handy tip for trim sender replacement

[verbious]

Thanks to the wonderful tip about bending a wrench in an offset S to remove the trim sender retaining bolts that are practically impossible to get to, I was able to successfully remove the trim senders. New kit has arrived and it is time for reassembly.

Pull the new wires through the hole in the stern, check.
Mate the grommet faces together, check.
Slide the retaining plate over the wires, check.
Install the bottom bolt, and tighten it down, check.

Now for the top bolt. It is a real SOB. I took an 8" piece of ground wire out of a piece of 12/2 ROMEX and figured I could bend it around the bolt at the head to help hold it in place but it didn't work until I bent it into the shape of a shepherds hook. I was able to put the bolt in the U and then close the U around the bolt head. Coming in from the left side behind the trim sender wires, I was able to very easily hold in in place until I could push it in to the threads and sort of twist it with my fingers just enough to grab the first thread. I very gently used my modded wrench to get a few turns on the bolt and then easily pulled the wire from the bolt and tightened the bolt the rest of the way.

Too easy! I will try to post a picture of the wire for a little more clarity.

 

[FireCkn]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Great thinking!!! Where was this 2 days ago when I did mine? That top bolt gave me hell going back in!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Too easy! I will try to post a picture of the wire for a little more clarity.

Can you include the offset S wrench in the picture also as I'm drawing a blank on that.

Mark

 

[achris]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Can you include the offset S wrench in the picture also as I'm drawing a blank on that.

Mark

Try this Mark. -> http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...-thanks-members-forum-597816.html#post4158878

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Try this Mark. -> http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...-thanks-members-forum-597816.html#post4158878

Thanks mate; guess I missed that thread.
My brain was not developing a picture like that for sure. Is where that bend is, looks like around 2 inches, critical?

Mark

 

[achris]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Thanks mate; guess I missed that thread.
My brain was not developing a picture like that for sure. Is where that bend is, looks like around 2 inches, critical?

Mark

Sort of... It needs to be in the right place to be able to get up into the top screw, and be short enough on to interfere with other components further down...

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Sort of... It needs to be in the right place to be able to get up into the top screw, and be short enough not to interfere with other components further down...

ah; so that could also mean that a modified tool for an a1g2 might not be quite correct for a Bravo?
Semi-custom then where you heat, bend, test fit, then just keep repeating the process until it seems to be right?

Mark

 

[achris]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

ah; so that could also mean that a modified tool for an a1g2 might not be quite correct for a Bravo?
Semi-custom then where you heat, bend, test fit, then just keep repeating the process until it seems to be right?

Mark

Given the similarity between the Bravo gimbal housing and the Alpha One Gen II housing, it's very likely the tools I have 'made' will fit both... It's not that an exact science.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Handy tip for trim sender replacement

Given the similarity between the Bravo gimbal housing and the Alpha One Gen II housing, it's very likely the tools I have 'made' will fit both... It's not that an exact science.

.....that's the answer I was hoping for mate, buddy, pal, best friend.......get it in the mail in the next 2 weeks and I'll have it for Memorial Day........

Mark