Trim question

[IanFS]

Just refitted the sterndrive on alpha 1 Gen 1. I must have moved the trim limiter and trim sender. Now the drive won't go fully on but will lift to trailer position.

I have returned the switch to it's mark but it was the same. I turned it anti clockwise all the way round and it is still the same. How sensitive are the switches?

 

[series60]

Re: Trim question

Just refitted the sterndrive on alpha 1 Gen 1. I must have moved the trim limiter and trim sender. Now the drive won't go fully on but will lift to trailer position.

I have returned the switch to it's mark but it was the same. I turned it anti clockwise all the way round and it is still the same. How sensitive are the switches?

If you follow the service manual for adjusting the trim limit & trim indicator switch, it is very straight forward. Have you cleaned every electrical connection at the pump (disconnect the battery before starting)? The corrosion on these contacts is always an issue because of where most trim pumps are located.

If you don't have a service manual, you can probably find it in the "Adult section" at the top of the first forum page.

I suppose Little Glenham, Woodbridge, Suffolk has changed some in the last 45 years!

 

[Chobes]

Re: Trim question

Get your self a manual! It is fairly straight forward. Once your cylinders are hooked up to your outdrive, run it all the way down. Now pull your sender off on the Port side and check the marks. There should be a line on the sender and another on the star part that you insert into the head of the bolt. Make sure those are lined up! then put sender back on ( but make sure the screws are all the way to left side of sender on the top slot and all the way to the right side of slot on the bottom.

Next run your trim up it should stop at some point. then measure the distance between the mounting bolts on the hydraulic arm. It should measure 21 3/4 inches (center of rear bolt to center of front bolt).. if not make tiny adjustmants by rotating the sender counter clockwise and in between each adjustment run the out drive up till it stops. that should be it.

If you are still having problems it may be the connections. Have you ever replaced the limit switch?? How old are they? assuming this is a pretty old boat with an Alpha 1 Gen 1 outdrive. after time the wires get really brittle and break!

Good luck and hope this helps.

 

[IanFS]

Re: Trim question

I have returned the switch to it's mark but it was the same. I turned it anti clockwise all the way round and it is still the same. How sensitive are the switches?

Chobes, sorry I wasn't very clear here. I called the trim limit switch a switch. I should have said that the lines were approx at 6 o'clock to each other, so I turned the starred centre part anti clockwise so the marks line up. This didn't alter the drive position at the ON position, so I moved the sender as per instructions in the Mercruiser manual. Still no alteration. I then turned the starred centre all the way round in a clockwise direction to see what effect it would have expecting a dramatic change, but instead the raise/lower switch raised the leg to the tow position without even using the trailing button. However when lowered it still did not reach the fully on position. It was perfectly OK before I started the work, which indicates that I may have moved the switch.

Are the Sender and the Limit switches linked and how sensitive to turning full circle are they? Or, are they fairly sensistive and only require slight movement to adjust. Unfortunately the manual doesn't give this information.

The raise solenoid is a little sticky but still works OK, would this affect the ON position.

I did have to expel a little fluid because the starboard trim ram had pushed itself out further than the port side, before I could refit the sterndrive, but I was very careful not to get air in the system. However I topped up the reservoir.

Thank you both for replying....

Series 60, I live in Sussex, it's approx 100 mls from Suffolk, I will try to send you a picture from Google Earth so you can see if it has changed.

 

[Chobes]

Re: Trim question

The limit switch is very sensitive! at least mine is, I just replaced them this past weekend! Minor adjustments when setting the trim height!.

I don't think the the sticky solenoid has much to do with it!, But you may want to check your ground wire the hooks to your pump! if that is loose or has any corrosion on it and can really cause a headache! Bad ground means poor current flow, so your motor will only run for short bursts.

This is a silly question but you didn't swap the sender and limit switch?? Limit switch on Port, sender on Starboard side on gimble ring..,

I don't believe that the switch and the sender are tied together any where. did you by any chance unplugged the limit switch wires that are mounted by the trim motor?? if they didn't get hooked back up incorrectly that can cause a problem. Like the drive raising to the trailer position when you press the up button!