Can I install a trim gauge

[Doug Boat]

Installing a trim gauge on an '89 Wellcraft 170 Classic with 3.0 L Mercruiser sterndrive Alpha 1 Gen 1.
I don't know which wire is the signal wire to connect to gauge. There are 4 wires going to/from the motor/pump and 4 wires from the receiving/sending limit switches. Could someone please let me know which wire is used for signal. I know the ignition and ground and instrument panel light wires. Thank you.

 

[Doug Boat]

For those with trim wires where the insulation has disappeared, I used the Starbrite liquid electrical tape or Plasti Dip to paint on the wires to recoat/recover them with insulation.
I got a long skinny brush and painted the liquid tape all the way up to the transom where the wires come out, down to the receiving/sending trim limit switches on the outdrive sides. Also painted the wires coming inside the transom to the trim pump and to the engine.
Be sure to separate the wires first so they are not shorted together.
You could use tape or heat shrink, but you can't get heat gun in, to shrink and dont want to, it may melt something, so just cover the tape or heat shrink with the liquid tape.
I used an ohm meter to check continuity of the wires, to be sure they weren't shorted, as I painted them.
Oh and make sure they are routed away from outdrive so they don't get pinched between outdrive and its housing area.

 

[achris]

Installing a trim gauge on an '89 Wellcraft 170 Classic with 3.0 L Mercruiser sterndrive Alpha 1 Gen 1.
I don't know which wire is the signal wire to connect to gauge. There are 4 wires going to/from the motor/pump and 4 wires from the receiving/sending limit switches. Could someone please let me know which wire is used for signal. I know the ignition and ground and instrument panel light wires. Thank you.

Forget the trim pump and its harness, that's not involved with the trim gauge, at all.

Of the 4 wires coming from the switches, there will be 2 pairs. One pair will have a male bullet connector on the ends of each wire. That's the limit switch, and does go to the trim pump harness, but that's got nothing to do with the gauge. The other pair has a male bullet on one and a female bullet on the other. This is the gauge sender. Look around at the back of the engine and you should find a brown/white and a black wire. Those are the harness connections for the gauge sender. Connect the sender wires to those.

Chris...........

 

[SearaySRV230]

Hi Chris
I am new to iBoats forum and really enjoy your excellent posts- how do I message you direct if possible re a Merc 230 V8 and low WOT issue ( a history to this )
my family all live in Sydney Australia as notice you are out of Perth
thanks mate!
Colin

 

[Scott Danforth]

Hi Chris
I am new to iBoats forum and really enjoy your excellent posts- how do I message you direct if possible re a Merc 230 V8 and low WOT issue ( a history to this )
my family all live in Sydney Australia as notice you are out of Perth
thanks mate!
Colin

dont hyjack threads, start one of your own.

 

[SearaySRV230]

Hi
i understand, not trying to hijack anything, just want to make sure Chris see’s my post - so will start a new post under this forum topic (Merc stern ) I guess?

 

[Bondo]

Hi
i understand, not trying to hijack anything, just want to make sure Chris see’s my post - so will start a new post under this forum topic (Merc stern ) I guess?

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... Chris, like All of us, keep a close eye on these threads,.....

After this encounter, I'm very sure he'll be lookin' for yer thread, started by you,......

 

[achris]

Hi
i understand, not trying to hijack anything, just want to make sure Chris see’s my post - so will start a new post under this forum topic (Merc stern ) I guess?

Well, you got my attention. Start a thread of your own and I'll look at it, see what I can do.

Chris..........
(Perth to Sydney is the same as New York to LA, just saying. )