Possible to replace trim sender in water?

[AaronG]

I suspect the trim sender on my 1997 Alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive is bad. Everything works fine, except the guage. The guage never seemed super accurate, but last week it really got flakey. Now it usually shows closer to up, and it shows full up when underway. I know the guage isn't real important, but it is useful, and if its an easy fix in the water, I'd like to do it. If not, I'll wait until winter. <br /><br />I can either do it at the dock, with the drive tilted all the way up, or there is an island I can beach the boat at and replace the sender. It would still be in at least 2 feet of water at the island, but it would be more accesable.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Possible to replace trim sender in water?

not really<br /> it requires removal of the drive and the bell housing. all to access a 1/4x20 clamp screw. my experience with splicing the wires is not good. in fact my experience with the merc trim and trim limit stuff has not been good. I dont design them I just fix them.

 

[tommays]

Re: Possible to replace trim sender in water?

its way harder than it should be you need to pull the drive<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14a4.pdf <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[AaronG]

Re: Possible to replace trim sender in water?

Thats what I figured. I'll wait until winter time.<br /><br />Thanks for the link tommays. A picture is worth 1000 words. That does look a lot harder than it should be. I guess a connector back there would be subject to damage/corrosion. No matter, I was pulling the drive for the winter anyway. <br /><br />Should I replace the trim limit switch too as preventive maintence? I'll be doing a bunch of other stuff back there as preventive maintence anyway. The boat lives in salt water from may-september, and sees 100 hours a year. I'd really prefer to stay on top of anything that could potentially ruin a weekend next summer. I don't mind spending a little extra in the winter time.