Trim goes down but not up?

[imported_Captain Morgan]

I was playing with the trim up/down button while my 17' Wellcraft Classic was on the trailer today with the outdrive all the way up. The down button caused the drive to go down. When I pushed the up trim button, nothing happened. To get it back up I had to press the "trailer" button. It seems like something is not right. Someone told me that the trim only changes the drive a few degrees near the full down position. I couldn't get the drive all the way down because the bottom of the drive(keel I think it's called?) hits the street while trailered. Is this normal for the up trim button not to do anything unless the drive is already 100% down? It doesn't make any noise when pressed like the down trim button does.

If I do have a problem, where do I check first? Do I start at the switch and work my way electrically to the trim device? I'm taking the boat out for the 1st time tomorrow after buying it so hopefully everything will work okay. I still like to hear any thoughts on this matter when I return tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

You have a trim limit switch on the drive to prevent you from raising the drive too high while running, the trailer switch bypasses this limit switch so it's possible that you have not lowered the drive into the "Safe Range" in order for the trim switch to work, maybe you can lower the tongue of the trailer to give your drive more clearance, if you can get the drive all the way down and the trim up still doesn't work you may have a defective or out of adjustment trim limit switch.

ps..bottom of the drive is called the "skeg"

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

What Year, Make, and Model is your drive?

 

[ParallaxBill]

His sounds like it works like it's supposed to.

His sounds like it works like it's supposed to.

My trim up button "does not" work while underway. I must press the trim up & up/out simultaniously just to trim up. Not sure what to check on mine either.

Mine is a 73 Mercruiser 165

 

[imported_Captain Morgan]

Re: His sounds like it works like it's supposed to.

Re: His sounds like it works like it's supposed to.

My trim up button "does not" work while underway. I must press the trim up & up/out simultaniously just to trim up. Not sure what to check on mine either.

Mine is a 73 Mercruiser 165

Hey! quit ambushing my thread! Just kidding d I think I may have a similar problem.

 

[imported_Captain Morgan]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

You have a trim limit switch on the drive to prevent you from raising the drive too high while running[ /quote]

You were right! I got it on the water today and found that the up trim did work once underway. It made a huge difference in the top speed (from 27 to 38mph). Funny thing is that on the way in to the ramp, the uptrim stopped working all together. I was able to trim down and trim up (using the "trailer" button slightly). I'm going to look into a possible intermittent electrical problem with it tomorrow in my driveway. Any tips on where to look are appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

Ayuh,............

Look at the Wires that go from the Trim Limit Switch, mounted to the side of the gimbel ring, Into,+ thru the Transom Shield..........

I'll Bet you Find the issue There........

 

[Fishstick1962]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

Adjust the trim limit switch on the port (left) side if the outdrive. It is about 1 1/2 round and has two wires coming out of it and is mounted with two screws on the gimble where the unit pivots up and down. Loosen the two screws and adjust it so that when u hit the up switch it stops when the trim cylinders reach a lenght of 20 3/4 inches measured from the center of the pins at each end of the cylinder. Never run the engine with the outdrive trimmed above this point as it will damage the u-joints and gimble bearing and cost $$$$ to repair. I learned this the hard way!! Good luck!

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

This is helping me.
I took my trim switches out today and cleaned them up. Also inpected the wiring. Still no up while underway, so my problem may also be in the limit switches.

I wasn't meaning to highjack, just thought our trim issue information may help others reading the thread.

 

[imported_Captain Morgan]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

.

I wasn't meaning to highjack, just thought our trim issue information may help others reading the thread.

I know you were'nt d
I was just teasing you. Hopefully we can both work out our trim issues. Mine seemed to work fine all day yesterday until I was heading in, then it either was up all the way or it wasn't working. I don't have an indicator so it's hard to tell. Does anyone know if it's a big deal to add an aftermarket trim indicator?

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

You still haven't stated what the Make, Model or year of your drive is. How can anyone say exactly how to fix it if they don't even know what it is? ? ? ?

 

[dk6164]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

At the risk of being corrected againd IF you have an Alpha 1 Gen 1-I had the same problem. I cleaned the trim limit switch to no avail and it wasn't until I removed the 4 screws in the cover of the limit switch, pulled the guts out, and emery clothed the copper strip and contact points that I got it working all the time!
First time since I've owned the boat that it works consistently.

Just a thought!

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: Trim goes down but not up?

I'm going to check my limit switch closely. I think my problem is there. I'll report back on my findings.
Good luck to all.