Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

[ccave04]

Hello,

I am a new boat owner and have searched the site a bit and found many threads on what may be the cause of this but I am stumped as how to fix the issue.

Boat Info:
20' Open Bow Marada 198 Ske

5.0L V8 Merc Engine
Alpha One Merc Outdrive (Serial No. 0L715730, Drive Ratio 1.62R) Not sure what Gen this is...

Here is the issue. The trim up/out button on the throttle is no longer functioning. The trailer button will bring the trim all the way up still and trim down/in still functions correctly. The trim motor is located on the port side of the boat just sitting on the other side of a firewall. I am not sure if this was a replacement trim motor and the previous owner didn't mount it or what the reason for this just sitting here is, but I assume I should probably mount it to something? The mount that it is hooked to currently is rusted all to hell and crumbling away.

Anyways in the fall when winterizing my boat I ran into some issues and we pulled that whole firewall on that side and were kicking around in there for quite a bit messing with a stuck plastic drain plug. My first thought was that while thrashing around with the plug I kicked / broke a wire somehow, but upon closer inspection everything looks connected and in the right places. From what I have read it sounds like it might be a trim limit that may have gone bad ? I don't know how to check that if someone can give me some direction from pictures below I would be greatly appreciated. If you need any better views of anything let me know I can take more.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Yeah you should probably try to resecure the pump, should be pretty easy to locate original mounting point. As for your trim, 99% of the time it is an open trim limit switch circuit. Don't know what year you have but will take a stab at it. Back near the transom you will see two black wires coming in from the outdrive. These two wires go into two connectors, one with a single purple/white wire and one with two blue/white wires. Unplug the black wires, and with a short piece of wire jumper between those connectors to bypass the trim limit switch. Try the trim switch, if it works then your problem is the trim limit switch. Lots of guys just leave it like that, just be careful when you trim up, because it will act the same as the trailer switch. Good luck.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Right on with stonys test. If you do determine it is the limit switch a lot of times you can take them apart and clean the contacts inside. Their a pretty simple switch.

Get that pump bolted down ASAP.

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Thanks guys, had to pull out the firewall but then I found the trim limit switch. I jumped them across with a small wire and that solved the problem (well at least the up button now brings all the way up). How hard are these to change out if I want them to work, I tried to clean them out with a small nail but that didn't seem to help, should I take them off and try to fix them up?



Also I definetly want to mount the motor back up but cannot find an original mounting point to save my life. I was thinking about bolting it to this fiberglass that is right behind it in the picture below, it is basically just a little storage container that has a self bilging hole in it, would it be bad to bolt it to this? I also was thinking I could bolt it to the firewall once it is reinstalled? Suggestions appreciated thanks.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Those are just the connectors. What you are doing is bypassing the limit switch now therefore you now know the switch is bad beings it's working. The switch is outside the boat mounted on the port side of the gimble ring. That's what you need to try cleaning. Part #6 in this diagram.
http://www.perfprotech.com/store/assembly/GIMBAL-RING-AND-STEERING-LEVER,1017-40.aspx#assembly That's the part #6 on the PORT side.

As for mounting the pump to the fiberglass storage container that would probably be fine. Or you could just get a new bracket that screws to the floor. Several of them on ebay new and used.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

+1 Jim. To take it a little farther now that you know where the trouble is: There are two possibilities here, either the the wires are broken or the contact inside of the switch is dirty or corroded. Broken wires would be pretty obvious. You could try splicing them, solder and coat with liquid tape. The switch itself is simply a contact arm that moves across a short copper strip. You could try cleaning it. Mark the switch position and unbolt it, disassemble and clean it, maybe CAREFULLY bend the arm so that makes better contact. If you get it to work, check the manual for how to adjust it, oh yeah, tape that little jumper wire to the connector so it will be handy if you need it again. Good luck.

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Thanks guys, once it stops raining I will head outside and see if I can tinker with the actual switch now that I know what it is.

Jim, I did a search on e-bay if I am not mistaken I need teh mount they call the "old style" correct? Found a used one that was a bit rusted but looks like could be sanded and repainted for $45. New stainless ones were about $100+, I am looking at the right items correct?

I will let you guys know what I come up with once I take apart the switch.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

That one on ebay for $45 was wrong. With it you mounted the solenoids directly to the pump. You need the one which allows for mounting the solenoids on the left side of the bracket like this.
http://www.iboats.com/Mercruiser-Power-Tilt-and-Trim-Pump-Assembly-and-Brackets/dm/view_id.715844
Do a search for Sierra 18-6749 bracket. I know you can find them new for a little under $50.
Or buy one here. http://www.iboats.com/Trim-Bracket-...0610638--session_id.687014612--view_id.712912 Note: The pic is viewing from the back side.

 

[thechamper]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

I have the same set up as ccave04, rusted bracket and all!

How would y'all recommend cleaning the limit switches on the lower unit? I thought they were a closed system? My trim goes up and down fine accept my trim won't go all the way down so when I have a crowd on the boat it takes an abnormal amount of time to plane out. Hoping cleaning up some connections will get me back to speed!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

I have the same set up as ccave04, rusted bracket and all!

How would y'all recommend cleaning the limit switches on the lower unit? I thought they were a closed system? My trim goes up and down fine accept my trim won't go all the way down so when I have a crowd on the boat it takes an abnormal amount of time to plane out. Hoping cleaning up some connections will get me back to speed!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... While yer system is the same,... Yer problems Ain't....

start a thread of yer own, 'bout Yer problems, instead of Hy-jackin' ccave's thread...

 

[thechamper]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Problem may not be the same and I didn't ask for you to solve my problems. I asked how you recommended cleaning the limit switches that was mentioned in the tread. It was not a high jack as much as I was asking for more detail of something that was breifly mentioned. I searched but didn't find much on this topic...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... While yer system is the same,... Yer problems Ain't....

start a thread of yer own, 'bout Yer problems, instead of Hy-jackin' ccave's thread...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Problem may not be the same and I didn't ask for you to solve my problems. I asked how you recommended cleaning the limit switches that was mentioned in the tread. It was not a high jack as much as I was asking for more detail of something that was breifly mentioned. I searched but didn't find much on this topic...

Ayuh,.... If ya wanta play the game here in this forum, each poster get's his Own thread, 'bout His problems....

This is ccave's thread, 'n not yer's...
Please read the blue banner, Just above the "Start a new thread" button...

Start yer own thread, 'n it'll be Yer's....

 

[thechamper]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Okay...sooo to move this thread along and to help ccave04 and anyone searching this thread. Here is a thread talking about cleaning the trim limit senders connections - http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=304819&highlight=clean+limit+switches

Right on with stonys test. If you do determine it is the limit switch a lot of times you can take them apart and clean the contacts inside. Their a pretty simple switch.

Get that pump bolted down ASAP.

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Ok, I had some time today and took apart the trim limit switch. ( I have pics for people in the future, but my girlfriend took my iphone plug so I cant load them till later) When I took apart the switch the screw that the held the copper arm down was corroded and there was a bit of corrosion else where inside the switch. I took everything apart cleaned real good and put it all back together. Still does not function when I take off the jumper cable and plug back into the connectors. There was one screw that was in between to the two black wires, I took this out and was not sure what it held together (possibly just held the black wires in?) but I pushed on the black wires to make sure they were in good and put the screw back.

At this point should I replace the trim limit switch? If I do this do I have to rewire or can I plug current wires into new switch (assuming it works after I do that) or should I just accept it and be careful not to raise the prop out of the water?

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Jim, thanks for the PM. Do you think I could just fabricate 2 "L" brackets and connect them to the piece of mount that was there prior? The piece that is left on is pretty solid and I think if I connected a bracket to the floor and the piece of mount that is left it should keep it from shifting around, or should I just pony up the 50 bucks?

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

My 2 cents...pony up the $$... It fits right, It looks nice and new, and you'll feel better (well, maybe not in the wallet, if your on a tight boat budget). Kinda surprised your bottom-mounted reservoir aint leaking at the o-ring (spider cracks)....

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

So I bought some angle iron and was gonna fabricate my own bracket and realized that looked odd and was going to be more trouble than it was worth, so I broke down and ordered the actual mount.

Here are some pics of the trim limit switch when I took it apart, like I said I cleaned it up and it still does not work. Not sure what my next step is, might just leave it with the jumper cable and be careful not to raise trim to high. BTW, my trim gauge does not work is this what the dial on the starboard size controls? Is there a chance I can clean that and it may work too?

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

The important part here is the copper arm making contact with the 2 copper strips. You should sand the copper strips lightly with a fine sand paper. Also sand the contact points on the copper arm lightly. Then slightly bend the ends of the copper arm up a little to make sure they are going to make contact with the copper strips. Before putting it back together do this test. Reconnect the wires back together in the boat. Now have someone hold the trim up/out button on. At the same time take a small piece if wire and jump it across the 2 copper strips in the limit switch. If it doesn't work than you have a problem in the wires going to the limit switch. If it works than you are having a problem with the little copper arm making contact with the 2 strips.

The gauge sender on the other side can also be taken apart and cleaned. If you get new ones I believe they only sell them in a kit now which has both the limit switch and the gauge sender with the wires made on them. You used to be able to buy one or the other and the wires also you could get seperate.

 

[ccave04]

Re: Trim Up / Out working only with Trailer button

Jim you were exactly correct, gave it a test whit a piece of wire with someone hit the button and it worked. Hit up all the copper (arm and contact points) with some sand paper hooked everything back up and it works great now Thanks a bunch for the advice. Not sure exactly how high to set the limit now, but I can figure out the best way to configure that.

Feeling accomplished, I spun over to the starboard side and took off the sender (trim gauge has not worked since I bought this boat). This one however has both wires broke off along with being corroded inside. I just went and purchased a solder gun and some shrinks and am going to see if I can reconnect them. Not sure how long that will hold but I figured it is worth a shot and it has never worked anyways so I don't have much to lose.