Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

[natemoore]

Really? My Sierra trim limit switch stops working after about 9 months. I checked for continuity through the entire swing of the lower unit. Open circuit through entire range of travel.

I guess the obvious advice is to check for cuts in the line, but since it's wrapped in that hard spirally wiring protector and properly routed/tied off to the water hose (by the book), I doubt it's that.

But, seeing as how my Mallory exhaust bellows, also less than a year old, has ripped open, I guess I'll be diving back into the bell housing this winter. I'm not sure I'll mess around with replacing the trim limit switch again. I just switched around the wires in the shift lever so that the up/down button works and the trailer button is inop.

Anyone else have bad experiences with the Sierra trim switches? Am I missing something?

 

[Don S]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

Don't you just love using aftermarket parts and saving all that money ??????

 

[natemoore]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

Don't you just love using aftermarket parts and saving all that money ??????

Most, if not all of my engine gaskets are Quicksilver, at least. I thought Sierra was a reputable parts manufacturer. Mallory...now I know.

I don't recall having found OEM trim switches during my online travels. In fact, I think I found "NLA" on the OEM sites.

 

[Don S]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

I wouldn't use bellows or anything below the waterline made by Mallory, or any other aftermarket manufacturer for that matter, especially Mallory. They are the cheapest of the cheap in my opinion. To many problems, to many time. And yes, I installed exhaust bellows from Mallory that didn't make it through the winter.
When I repair a boat for a customer and he wants me to use aftermarket parts, he is warned that the parts are covered by the manufacturers warranty, but the labor is not. His choice at that point.

PS, the trim switch/sender kits are available from any Merc dealer. The kit number is 805320A3

 

[labzman3]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

Glad I spent the $$$ and bought all Merc. parts for my outdrive repairs !! I found a set of Merc. trim switches on Amazon for $69.00 a few weeks ago !! My hat's off to you full time marine mechanics !!!!! This project has been a real PITA !!!!!

 

[natemoore]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

Glad I spent the $$$ and bought all Merc. parts for my outdrive repairs !! I found a set of Merc. trim switches on Amazon for $69.00 a few weeks ago !! My hat's off to you full time marine mechanics !!!!! This project has been a real PITA !!!!!

Yeah, the hardest part was getting a box wrench way up behind the bell housing and getting to the bolt that holds the rubber grommet in the transom hole...you know the hole where the trim switch wires go through the transom? PITA is an understatement.

One of my OEM parts look-up sights threw me off the scent. They showed one trim switch as a "dummy switch" what? and the other as NLA, huh? So I bit on the first ones I found from Sierra.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_Pictures3.asp?dnbr=%2099964&ivar=images/CRUISER/99964/30064.png&inbr=2203&bnbr=50&bdesc=GIMBAL+RING+AND+STEERING+LEVER

 

[natemoore]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

I wouldn't use bellows or anything below the waterline made by Mallory, or any other aftermarket manufacturer for that matter, especially Mallory. They are the cheapest of the cheap in my opinion. To many problems, to many time. And yes, I installed exhaust bellows from Mallory that didn't make it through the winter.
When I repair a boat for a customer and he wants me to use aftermarket parts, he is warned that the parts are covered by the manufacturers warranty, but the labor is not. His choice at that point.

PS, the trim switch/sender kits are available from any Merc dealer. The kit number is 805320A3

I thought GLM was the worst. What's that salesman's saying? "Buy based on quality, buy once. Buy based on price, buy twice?"

Thanks for the correct part number.

 

[labzman3]

Re: Less than a year on a trim limit switch and exhaust bellows

Trust me I know that feeling !!! I had to have the stepson get his fingers up there to get the top bolt into that ring !! My parts diagramn also showed the starboard side as being a dummy switch,, but I have the gauge and the wires were all chaffed off of the insulation !!
Amazon had the complete set for $69.00 a week or 2 ago.
My engine coupler went out before Labor day,,, and I am still SLOWLY putting it all back together,, but after owning the boat for 7 years,, and having no real issues with it,, I guess it's time for some TLC
Guess I should count my blessings,, we were at a local lake when the coupler went out,, I WAS planning to start going up to Lake Erie and go after the fall perch run,,, If I'd broke down there and got towed in,, I might as well have signed the title over to them !!!