Jcris
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2016
- Messages
- 466
FWIW,
I replaced my trim switches yesterday without removing the drive. I read many posts on this and other forums and was really on the fence on whether to pull the drive to do this work. I'll say I'm not experienced with boats but have wrenched on my cars my entire life. For better or worse I've gained some confidence in that arena which has saved me a ton of cash.
Turns out the retainer "clip" on my drive is held in place with only one screw. The metal clip has a split that allows routing of the switch wires, sort of a fork looking clip. Figuring out how to keep that clip in place AND get the wires routed through it, was as big a part of the job as anything. I eventually pulled the wires back far enough to put a ty-wrap on the wires which kept the clip in place which allowed me to get the clip in place on the transom and get the screw started. I'll say the screw threaded on fairly easily which I'm pretty sure was pure luck, At which juncture , about 3 hours into it. was an absolute revelation. I could not get my large meat hooks into that spot to install that clip or start the screw. I ended up using a 1/4" ratchet, a universal joint and wobble type extension to get the screw started and tightened. I've added an image which I hope shows what I'm talking about.
I'd have to say, if and when this repair comes along again I'll be pulling the drive
I replaced my trim switches yesterday without removing the drive. I read many posts on this and other forums and was really on the fence on whether to pull the drive to do this work. I'll say I'm not experienced with boats but have wrenched on my cars my entire life. For better or worse I've gained some confidence in that arena which has saved me a ton of cash.
Turns out the retainer "clip" on my drive is held in place with only one screw. The metal clip has a split that allows routing of the switch wires, sort of a fork looking clip. Figuring out how to keep that clip in place AND get the wires routed through it, was as big a part of the job as anything. I eventually pulled the wires back far enough to put a ty-wrap on the wires which kept the clip in place which allowed me to get the clip in place on the transom and get the screw started. I'll say the screw threaded on fairly easily which I'm pretty sure was pure luck, At which juncture , about 3 hours into it. was an absolute revelation. I could not get my large meat hooks into that spot to install that clip or start the screw. I ended up using a 1/4" ratchet, a universal joint and wobble type extension to get the screw started and tightened. I've added an image which I hope shows what I'm talking about.
I'd have to say, if and when this repair comes along again I'll be pulling the drive
