DP290 trim sensor sender

[loco]

Hi all,
My trim gauge has suddenly stopped working - I suspect the trim sender, though I'll check all the wiring first.
The boat's moored in a permanently wet marina, so drying it out takes a bit of a commitment and needs booking in advance - it it likely that the sender's just failed, and I should just order one, or can they work themselves loose, so might be repairable?

How difficult are they to change? Can I do it in between tides, or am I best taking it out the water on a trailer for a few days?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Danforth]

You can change a 290 trim sensor in the boat while in the water. Its inside the boat. However if your gauge is simply reading one value, most likely you lost the gear segment (about $5) or starwheel (about $20). The sensor rarely goes bad, and when it does, it's pricey

Btw, drive (or at least transmission) needs to be removed to replace star wheel. Not something you can do in the water

 

[loco]

Thanks so much for the advice. Taking a look, it's the plastic toothed gear section, so a cheap part. However, am I right in thinking the leg needs to come off to swap it out? It goes under the 'helmet' section, and I imagine there's a fixing under it.

How do you go about setting it once it's in place, or to you just lower the drive all the way, spin the toothed gear until it reads the same, and then fit the toothed section?

Cheers

 

[Scott Danforth]

no, the leg doesnt need to come off for the plastic section, at most you need to pull the steering pin.

the manual tells you how to align the sensor, however what I did was use all the way up against the stop as my reference. (in my case that is 44 degrees). you will know if your one tooth off, then simply pull sector and adjust as required.

I would also replace the plastic screw that holds the sector in place.

I would also recommend picking up two steering yoke bushings, a seal, and a new sensor star wheel and seals and changing them out at next bellows change. those parts are probably due for replacement due to age as well.