Power Trim Gage

[jjparish]

I have a 1981 90hp Johnson. The power trim gage was working like new until today. Now it only registers full up or full down and jumps between. Is it the gage or the sending unit?

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Power Trim Gage

Try disconnecting the sender back at the engine and measuring the resistance between the sender's wires as you activate its arm. Should go steadily and evenly from about 10 to 140 ohms. If not the sender is bad. This is quite common particularly if you run in salt water. Since it works over the entire range more or less, I would not immediatly suspect the wiring, but more probably the gauge. You could also disconnect the sender wire at the gauge and measure the resistance between the sender wire and the gauge's ground terminal while someone else activates the sender. You should get the same result as doing it at the motor. If not, then the wiring is suspect, otherwise the gauge.

 

[jjparish]

Re: Power Trim Gage

Thanks, This is just what I needed. I have the direction to check it out.

 

[Hunky Dory]

Re: Power Trim Gage

I have a '98 Evinrude 90 with tilt/trim -- What does it take to add the trim gauge that netrooper is asking about? <br /><br />I looked at eBay prior to posting this and found much tilt/trim paraphanalia but no sender for OMC outboards. Does this mean every tilt/trim pre-equipped with a sender? <br /><br />Could be a snake waiting to bite but I never noticed a discrete sender (can't run out and check, the boat is not nearby). Engine has console gauges including warning light set and tach. If the tilt sender is built in, is its wiring included in this harness?

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Power Trim Gage

HD, my guess is that you already have the sending unit on your motor, but you'll need to check it to be sure. With motor raised up, you should see a little black device with a spring loaded arm mounted to the port side transom bracket. If this is the case then the wiring is probably already there for it as it is a part of the T & T wiring harness, so you'll just need to get a gauge. Just be sure to get a gauge for a Johnson, Evinrude, OMC outboard. If you get a Mercury one, it will work in reverse is my understanding. If you don't have the sender, then you can get it from your local dealer or maybe try Ishopmarine.com. Price is about $80 list. I had to add the T & T, sender and gauge to my boat, but some of the best money I ever spent. I like having the gauge because it tells me quickly exactly where my motor is trimmed to without having to look back at it and quess. Really helps when trimming for different conditions and to get back to the sweet spot quickly.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Power Trim Gage

HD, just a note, in the future or if you need further help with this, you should probably start your on topic thread instead of "hijacking" someone elses. Makes it kind of confusing later for people to continue to help the original poster.