U-joint bellows and trim/tilt sender repair

[jimrockireland]

Two questions: I have a 1983 "R" sterndrive and am replacing the U-joint bellows and the trim/tilt sender switches and wire. The bellows I removed had a wire insert to keep the bellows (60932A4) from collapsing (I'm guessing). The OEM bellows I received did not have the wire insert nor does it appear in the MarineEngine parts diagram. Should I use the wire insert from my old bellows and put it in the new bellows or has its use been discontinued? Secondly on the trim sender I removed there was a thin insulator (85-63990) behind it but none behind the limit switch. Is it only the trim sender that has this insulator?

 

[Grub54891]

The wire should be in there already installed. Have a look again, and stick your fingers in there, feel for it. It is for keeping the bellow from collapsing. If it's not there, I suppose you could use the old one if it's in good shape. Just pay attention to where the ends start and finish, there might be a certain way they go in. As far as that thin spacer on the trim sender, I'm not sure.

 

[jimrockireland]

You were right about the bellows. Looking more carefully I did see the wire insert in the new bellows.

 

[jimrockireland]

I just called Doug Russell and they looked up the parts diagram. There diagram does show a thin insulator under the trim limit switch on the port side - none under the trim sender. I'm guessing the resistor value can be affected if this insulator is not there.