Trim trouble

[ma glastron]

As I was getting my boat out of it's winter wrap and giving it a good spring clean up I notice my trim goes down fine but won't go up unless I use my trailer switch. Is there a separate solenoid for the up and trailer mode?

 

[Part-time]

Re: Trim trouble

outboard or I/O?
What make?
I'm taking a guess but you probably have a mercruiser I/O... if so, it's the trim limiting switch located on the port side of the outdrive (at the hinge pin in the bellhousing) that failled.
1 solution is to tie the 2 wires together to bypass the switch, or fix the switch.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Trim trouble

Part-time nailed it - I'll just add that if the limit switch is out of tolerance or has failed, that would cause the "up" switch on your throttle to not work while the "trailer up" button bypasses the limit switch.
If its a merc, look for a black in color round disk located on the port side of the lower unit. You might have a broken wire or it has spun out of position.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Trim trouble

Had the same problem with my old 97 mercruiser setup. Happened each spring, cause I'd always miss the standalone wire that went directly to the battery. My suggestion, take a hard look where you replace the battery and make sure you don't have a disconnected wire.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Trim trouble

I would really try to fix the problem rather than by-pass anything with a wire. If your trimming with your trailer buttons you risk a strong chance of over trimming and trashing your U-joints. Or if your 100% sure your trim gage works and is accurate and always pay attention to what your doing, , , yeah you could probably by-pass it with a wire.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Trim trouble

I wasn't suggesting bypassing anything, My MC had a standalone wire that went directly to the battery. For all I remember it could have been a ground wire. It got me 3 years in a row, LOL!!!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Trim trouble

Bypass the darn thing. You need to overtrim a lot to trash the U-joints. Also, if you over trim, you do not know what you are doing. Additionally, the trim limit switch on the Alphas is a bad design. The salt water rotted mine away many years ago....

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim trouble

Had the same problem this spring...

Read through the bottom of this thread:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=541976

Ended up being just corroded and dirty inside of the trim limit switch cleaned up and works great... Prior to cleaning and reparing though I did use the jumper line to see if that functions... now as stated in that thread by someone that jumper line is taped next to the battery case it happens out on the water I also fixed my trim sender (starboard side) by cleaning up and soldering back on the wires and that fixed the trim gauge too... good luck.

 

[ma glastron]

Re: Trim trouble

Thanks guy's ,I do have mercruiser/ alpha 1. I hope to solve this on sat . If not, I will still run her on sun and will by trailer switch.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Trim trouble

Thanks guy's ,I do have mercruiser/ alpha 1. I hope to solve this on sat . If not, I will still run her on sun and will by trailer switch.

My suggestion- after a reasonable amount of effort to try and fix it, just by pass the switch and know never start the engine with the drive up and never drive up the ramp with the drive down!

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim trouble

Here is the troubleshooting chart and wiring diagrams for checking your trim system.

View attachment A1 Trim Troubleshooting .pdf