Trim up on throttle not working. Down works and trailer up works.

medicbearusaf · Jun 30, 2016

1986 Larson with mercruiser 3.0 original motor. Just purchased. When purchased previous owner told me trim gauge didnt work. Then during inspecting pre purchase he seemed surprised it was working, then it stopped again. Trim up and down worked fine. Went boating everything was fine went to dock and trailer and trim up wont work. Thought it was up by sound forgot the trailer switch heard slight scrape of skeg stopped immediately. Trim up was working but not lifting high enough to get it out then it stopped working as the skeg was stuck. Yes im new and dumb. Mistake learned. A guy at the dock helped me climbed in took a look said the solenoid was bad since he couldnt hear a click on trim up. Trailer up worked fine and still works fine. Down still works fine. Swapped out the up solenoid still nothing. Said he had just replaced the trim limiter and position sensor. Checked connections everything seems fine... any thoughts?

stonyloam · Jun 30, 2016

OK at the ramp you said the trim up stopped but the trailer still worked. That is pretty much as it should be, the trim limit limits the up travel. The trailer raises the outdrive all the way up. So first off do this: lower the outdrive all the way down, then use the trim to raise it until it stops, measure the length of the hydraulic cylinder, center to center on the bolts. Should be 21 3/4 inches. Use the trailer switch to run the outdrive all the way up. If that test works you are OK. Now if neither the trim nor trailer switch work, suspect the solenoid. If trailer works but trim does not, it is probably your trim limit circuit. Let us know how that works, and we should be able to get it fixed.

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

It worked initially at the dock then stopped working. Another guy there that helped me take a look said it was the solenoid. I replaced the solenoid and still don't have trim up at all. Trailer up still works. Trailer down still works. When I press the up button i don't hear a click or anhyhing at the solenoid . Even with it all the way down.

dingdongs · Jul 1, 2016

Time to get a multimeter and check wiring.do you have 2 solenoids? Switch may be fubar.
could try touching a permanent live to the green then blue wire to bypass the wiring side in the boat
Remember green for grass = down
Blue for sky = up
If this gets all moving correct way its your wiring, switch or solenoids

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

Well after some testing and multimeter playing I believe I've got the problem isolated to either to the blue wire coming out of the switch itself at some point or the trim switch on the throttle itself. When I press the trim down button I get a reading on the multi meter when it's connected directly to the post on the switch. Trim up I get nothing. So would that lead one to believe it's the switch rather than the wire?

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

When I jump the wire just before the make to female plug it works. When I jump the same wire just after the switch I get nothing.. Guess its the wire at some point.

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

Upon futher checking i realize on was jumping it after the trim limit switch it was working. Would the trim limit switch be the culprit?

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

When I jump that white piece shown in the center it goes up fine. So would that most likely indicate the recently replaced limit switch is bad?

stonyloam · Jul 1, 2016

OK, chances are that it is not the switch or wire. By far the most common failure is the trim limit circuit. Do this: go to the stern and locate two black wires coming through the transom, one plugs into a connector with a purple/ white wire, the other into a connector with 2 blue/ white wires. Unplug the black wires and with a short piece of wire make a jumper wire to connect the p/w and b/w connectors. Plug the wire in and try the TRIM switch. If it works, then your trouble is the trim limit switch circuit.

stonyloam · Jul 1, 2016

I think you posted while I was writing. Yeah jumper those two connectors in the photo, your trim should work, but will have no limit, will work same as trailer. With the outdrive all the way down, take your voltmeter and see if there is continuity between the two black wires. If not your switch is not working.

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

Bingo that worked. So is the only option bypassing or replacing? Can the switch be repaired? I'm too new to boating to trust myself with it bypassed. And from what I read it's expensive and a pain to have a shop replace though I think I found a tutorial showing an easy way to replace it.

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

Nope no continuitu

stonyloam · Jul 1, 2016

First off when you are running on the water with the boat on plane and you trim, your boat will let you know when you get too high. Yes you can take the switch apart (the one on the port side of the gimbal ring) and clean it. It is just a contact arm and a couple of contact strips. Check the wires before taking the switch apart to make sure one is not broken. Mark it well so you can get it back in the proper position. Adjust to 21 3/4 inches if you get it working.

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

So one part down cleaned contacts got it working again. I did the reinstall and measurment for limit. Full in I'm at 6.24in full out 12.5in. The directions I found said in 6.5in extended then rotate switch all the way counter clockwise and it's set. Well trim out now works at switch but it doesn't seem to be limiting it. I can take it all the way up just like trailer. As seen in image attached.

stonyloam · Jul 1, 2016

Those instructions sound...... Well wrong? Try these http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...925066-alpha-one-trim-limit-switch-adjustment From the merc manual. Use the 21 3/4" for your Alpha 1

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

Here's the ones i went off of initially. http://www.mercstuff.com/trim_limit.htm When I did that only got a little movement before it for out. seems to be working now goes up then stops. Then will only go higher with trailer.when it stops I have 24.25in center of bolt to center of bolt. But now I got the basics on adjusting it. Looks like the contacts just needed cleaning. Now if I can figure out the gauge not working and the steering play I'll be in business.

medicbearusaf · Jul 1, 2016

Ok g2g at 21.5in bolt to bolt which is the 6.5in measurement from the other guide. So that's part of where my confusion originated. But its working so far so good. Trims up then cuts out then trailer from there.

stonyloam · Jul 1, 2016

Great! As far as the gauge goes, I along with a lot of the guys, Bondo for one have not looked at a trim gauge in 20 years. You trim a boat mostly by feel and the tachometer, and retrim all the time. Turn into the wind, retrim, slow down, retrim, somebody moves up to the bow, retrim etc. Here is a good way to start, trim down to start, accelerate to get on plane and start trimming up. Trim up until it just starts to porpoise a bit then back down to smooth it out. From there trim for a smooth ride at cruse, watch your tachometer, at optimum you will gain RPM. Whenever you make a change reoptimise, you will find that is better than a gauge. Have fun!

stonyloam · Jul 1, 2016

Steering play, go back and see if the outdrive has side to side play. If so retorqued the gimbal ring clamping screws to 55 ft lb. see if that tightens it up.

Trim up on throttle not working. Down works and trailer up works.

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