Trim limit / trailer button questions. .. not what you might first think!

[in2boats]

Hi everyone.

Just got a couple of questions about trim limit . From the research I've been doing online, my problem is not the common problem of "can trim up with trailer button but not trim up on control lever"

Ok so basically on my 268 7.4 with alpha gen 1, i have no trim gauge response when I trim the leg. I really need a trim gauge functioning as some of the rivers I use become very shallow suddenly. I know the wires on the sender are rotten so I thought: no problem, I will buy a new trim sender and trim limit kit and install it. However I have since discovered a bit more before I fit the new sender + limit kit so I thought I had better ask on here before I potentially waste my time!

As stated above, my trim gauge on dashboard is always on max and never responds. Now the interesting part: my trailer button doesn't respond at all. It appears to be dead. And my trim control on the throttle leaver let's me trim the leg all the way up until the trim cylinders are fully extended. Is this a sign that the trailer button has been cut, and the wires have been modified?

In another way of asking; does it appear wrong that my "up" button on the throttle leaver allows the cylinders to extend this far, I'm assuming to what would be the trailer position?

The only reason I ask is that I assumed this was the standard amount of trim availability, and that my trim limit was functioning ok. That was until I watched a video by perfprotech yesterday and it stated I should only have about 22 3/4 inch distance between both nuts at full out position. I hope this makes sense and someone can advise? The leg currently travels much more than that

 

[nickdcj7]

I had the same problem. What I found on mine was that the po had rewired it to reverse the trailer switch and the up switch on the throttle lever. I'm guessing the reason was to be able to use the switch on the throttle after the trim limit switch stopped working. When I put the new trim senders in, the trailer switch would take the drive up to the limit switch, and the other up switch still went all the way up. I found and flipped the two wires and everything went back to normal.

I never did get the trim angle working right on mine though. I had it where it worked when the engine was off, but it was always pegged when the engine was running. Hopefully you'll have more luck with that part than I did.

 

[in2boats]

Excellent post there. Many thanks. You have pretty much answered my question ! But I am now debating weather or not to even go ahead and install if there is a risk of bad angle indication on the gauge. I could just count in seconds from lower limit and remember how long it takes to reach the max limit when underway, if that makes sense? Because to install the kit I think I may have to re-glue the uj bellows, possibly replace as well?

 

[nickdcj7]

If you get the up switch set right, you can always go off of that for your shallow areas. As far as running angle, you can time it like you said. Idk about the bellows, I did everything at once because I needed a new shift cable and trim switches.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

I have replaced them in the past with splicing wires outside. Just made sure they were sealed real well with liquid rubber and shrink tubing afterwards.
They can be tricky to set, tiny movements when rotating in the screw slot and patience when adjusting. Helps to have another person.

 

[in2boats]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately the damaged wires are right next to the actual pucks themselves. So there's no way I could repair them. Yeah for it might cause me in hassle and expense, i think I'm just going to leave them and time the up trim in seconds. Will probably be about 3 seconds I think. But I'm glad for the input here as it confirmed my thoughts that the trim up and trailer wires had been switched. Thanks again everyone. Happy boating !

 

[KC_Sundancer]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately the damaged wires are right next to the actual pucks themselves. So there's no way I could repair them. Yeah for it might cause me in hassle and expense, i think I'm just going to leave them and time the up trim in seconds. Will probably be about 3 seconds I think. But I'm glad for the input here as it confirmed my thoughts that the trim up and trailer wires had been switched. Thanks again everyone. Happy boating !

Just to clarify: when I said I have replaced them, I meant the pucks themselves splicing their wires into the existing wires outside of the boat.
Happy Boating to you too!

 

[in2boats]

Oh, I see what you mean now, i will have a look this weekend , if it looks possible I shall do it and write back. Cheers

 

[JDMerkel]

Holy cow Boats, be careful. If you trim up too far while engine is running you can not only destroy your U-Joint but the drive plate connecting the engine to the outdrive. Thats why there's a trim limit switch. If it was me I'd replace em both and the bellows if your the least suspect about the bellows, I have twins on my boat and did both. Ya you need 4 arms and a monkey to do it but its worth it.

 

[Ottawamerc]

These trim switches are my biggest pet peeve on Mercruisers. Everyone that I've owned has had issues and I actually did replace both on one boat and to me at least it was a bugger of a job. On my new boat I got this year, a 87 268 they were shot on it but luckily only close to the switch so I was able to repair them. But the wires inside the boat were disconnected and I couldn't find the connection. I ended up tracing the wire from the gauge to the engine harness wire loom but then it disappeared. I just cut the wire before it entered the engine wiring and spliced the trim gauge into it and the other lead to the engine ground terminal now it works.

Scott