Trim tilt gauge setting?

Half Fast

Cadet
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
17
Just got it back from the shop, new dash gauge & senders. When the new gauge says it's up as far as it should go for running in shallow water it's only giving me about 6 inches more draft. Before I had it "fixed" it would automatically cut out at some point where I could still run & it was way higher than the 6 inches it comes up now. I used to have a manual that I thought gave the specs for how high it should be to keep running? The values were expressed in an angle number taken off the rams, I think? $100.oo an hour, & I get this crap! Why do I still have to fix it myself?
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

what are ya trying to accomplish> the trim sender has nothing to do with drive motion or lackof. all it does is change the circuit resistance for the meter movement. the trim limit switch controls the amout of trim up before you have to hit the trailer function.<br /> not knowing which drive you have I cant say how far up the drive should go before the trailer function has to be activated.<br /> only manufacture I recall that ever gave angles was VP. and that system gets crazy to adjust.
 

Half Fast

Cadet
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Who said anything about a trailer here? Have you lost your mind, me boy? I know, I'm a comedien. I want the gauge to tell me when the outdrive is up to the maximum position that it can be operated at without harm to the unit. That's why it's there! When I get into shallow water I trim it up the maximum up position, then if I want to put the boat on the trailer I hold the second button down to bring the unit up to the trailer position. I've never owned a boat that didn't operate this way. You must not have understood? my post. This is a very simple question. I'm sure there is some miscomunication here, probably on my part but something is wrong here, & it ' s probably with me.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

With your statement about gauge and senders (s as in more than one sender) I would guess you have a Merc drive of some sort. If that is the cause and both the trim gauge sender and the trim limit sender was replaced or adjusted, the trim limit is probably now set properly. The trim limit is supposed to be for normal running trim, not trim up for shallow running.<br />If they adjusted it by the book, then it will not trim up for running in shallow water.
 

Half Fast

Cadet
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Okay Just as I thought, It's my problem. I screwed something up in my posting. It's a 78 350 chevy Mercrusier with the 260 outdrive on it. The gauge works now, but it's useless because it doesn't cut out in uppermost permissible drive possition like it did before it was "fixed". When the gauge indicates it is in that position it's only giving me about a 6 inch lift. so, if it was 3 feet deep at the bottom of the gauge I could only have a 2 a a half foot depth to the bottom. I used to get way more than that. It worked better before it was "fixed".
 

Half Fast

Cadet
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time, but always enough time to do it again?<br /><br />That's why I took it to a $100.oo an hour shop to begin with. That & I don't have time to work on it myself, or that's what I thought at least in the beginning. If the "professional shop" can't fix it at these rates, I guess it's up to us??? or me. Why am I still fating around with this??
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

I don't think you have a problem. I actually think it is adjusted properly on the trim limit. Gauge too. The trim limit was probably way to high by the book specs, and when your shop put in the new ones, they adjusted things to the book. <br />However, if you think they screwed it up, take it back and let them fix it or explain why it's right.<br />Don't just come in here screaming at us because our answers (without even knowing what kind of drive) didn't come up to your expectations.
 

Half Fast

Cadet
Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
17
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Relax, no worries here, I get riped off everytime I take a boat to the shop. I'm used to it. Read my post before you go acusing me of "screaming" around here. I don't see no capitals here do you? So, if you think it's working right what is the problem? It don't work like it used to before it was "fixed". At least before I knew wether the outdrive was up or down, now, it's way off, & that's with the gauge working but not properly calibrated. I should be YELLING AT YOU.
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

I have never seen a merc guage that reads in degrees of angle. does not mean they dont just I have never seen one. the gauge has absolutly nothing to do with trim movement, period. volvo penta did have a guage that gave direct readings of trim angle, however you did not post the drive make or model so we had to Guess.<br /> on the alpha drives you should have about 22 inches from anchor to anchor when the trim limit cuts out. I have no clue how much lift that is cause I never measured it by lift. only by anchor to anchor. <br /> so it may be fixed correctly or it may not, the specs are in your service manual. its a quick easy check requireing only a tape measure.<br /> you would not believe the amount of boats that come in for service with the trim limit bypassed and when I correct it they get mad cause it dont work right anymore.
 

sumcat1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 27, 2005
Messages
106
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Don't know why you guys even talk to people like Half Fast.Not hard to see how he got that handle!
 

Bondo

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Staff member
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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,084
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Ayuh,.......<br /><br />I Just Love the guys who come here with Questions,.......<br />But Already Know their Answers,..... Or,.. Atleast the Answer They Want To Hear.........<br /><br />Then,... Instead of them being Half-A$$ed,.....<br />We're All Dummies......Or Worse............................. :rolleyes: :D
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

its cause I deal with this daily, folks come in ask advice then tell me how wrong I am because their brothers wifes sisters former husbands nephew used to work on tractors while picking melons and he said blah blah blah.<br /> most those I ease out the door, I wont work on stuff like that.<br /> its not worth the aggrevation and if I have to do it there is an hour or two of a hole charges tacked on :) :) .<br /> some boats it seems if you touch anything they expect a lifetime warrenty from bow to stern.<br />work on this stuff 30 years or so and you learn how to see it comeing.
 

boatgrunt

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2005
Messages
285
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

Halffast - nothin like slapping the hand that's trying to feed you. <br /><br />What a dumb a$$ !!! Show some respect - some of the people that are trying to help you spend hours a week helping people on this board FOR FREE!!!! <br /><br />You are not being funny, so don't be rude and try to pass it off as humor. Like Bondo said, if you have all the answers, don't bother askin the question next time. Try to show a little class and be patient with people trying to help you!
 

imported_Curmudgeon

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Messages
496
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

The gage indicates position of the drive ... the mental giant with his hand on the button has to decide when enough is enough. If I got screwed each time I took my boat some place, I believe I'd find another place!
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Trim tilt gauge setting?

yall lay of halffast<br /> he ok. just anymore this boating thing so so expensive any repairs on any hulls and you expect a new boat.<br /> its crazy<br /> routine service bills that hit 700-900 dollars are common.<br /> its nuts<br /> it also causes maint not to be done<br /> then we wont throw in the amount of poorly trained techs or techs that have years of experience in making the same mistakes.<br />seems anymore most folks think I am just there to rip them off, however if I take your cash and you ask I will tell you where I live and give you my home phone# in case you have a problem.
 
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