Trim gauge

[Shadow66]

How accurate are people's trim gauges? Mine is terrible...it stays at the up position until I trim almost all the way down and then quickly drops to down on the gauge. Kinda useless really.

Is there anything anyone would suggest? Gauge...wiring...limiters...etc...?

Who would be the most likely suspect...or is this just the inaccurate way of trim gauges (as with so many other things with boat gauges)?

 

[jam1ej20]

Re: Trim gauge

The gauge is only designed to operate for the "trim" range. The gauge will not indicate the position for the full range of motion. Only the bottom 15-20% of the movement is in the trim range because that is the movement that is allowed while the boat is under power.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Trim gauge

i doubt i know your answer. but everyone might be interested in what ya have engine and drive wise..

The gauge is only designed to operate for the "trim" range. The gauge will not indicate the position for the full range of motion. Only the bottom 15-20% of the movement is in the trim range

while that may be how yours operates. it's not how mine operates. my gauge operates the full swing. my trim gauge is green in color when i'm in trim range, trailer is in the red. my gauge begins to move as soon as the drive is moving (being trimmed) from full in/down, to full out/up...

while i don't know the procedure for adjustment of mine. i have seen it in the book that there is a method of adjustment for the trim sender.. + the gauge itself i think is testable to be sure it works proper too. this is true for the rig in my sig. don't know about yours as we don't know what ya have... yet...

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Trim gauge

I have a 3.0 Merc Alpha 1 sterndrive. 2002 Stingray 180 LX.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim gauge

The trim sensor is just a variable resistor, yours is making lousy contact, and should be replaced. Replacement (by the book) is a HUGE PITA (by a marina hugely expensive), you have to pull the outdrive and bellhousing to get to the clamp on the through transom fitting. I wasn't going through that again, so I just cut the old wires, Slipped on a couple of pieces of shrink tubing, made a solder splice, coated the splice with liquid tape and positioned the shrink tubing over the splice. Works fine. Make sure that you get the polarity right with the wires or the gauge will work backwards (try before you solder). Instructions come with the sensor. BTW the sensor is on the starboard side.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim gauge

Just reread your post, you might be lucky and just be out of adjustment. Run the trim all the way down. turn the outdrive so you can access the starboard sensor. Loosen the adjustment screws. Put it in gear so you can not accidentally start it. turn the key to run DO NOT START so the gauge works. Rotate the sender to see if the needle moves. If it does, put it on the max down mark and tighten. Hit the trim up and see if it works.

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Trim gauge

Thanks guys, I am going to try the adjustement first this weekend. If that doesn't work I'll try the replacement by splicing...sounds a lot easier than pulling the bell housing like the manual suggests.