Mercruiser 1 trim/tilt switch help

[list249]

Im rebuilding a 71' Starcraft Chieftain, having a hard time finding a new 3 button trim/tilt switch like the original. Don't really understand why it had 3 buttons, but can this be replaced with a simple up/down toggle? Thank you.

 

[AShipShow]

Dunno about the older mercruisers, but typically you will have a trimp up/trim down/ and trailer position. The trim up bottom should stop the drive on the way up at a certain height, then the trailer button will bring it up the rest of the way for..... well.... trailering

 

[Buckischloo]

My 1988 Mercruiser has the set up mentioned above by Props with the trailer button. I would think you could find a more late model control with the trim switch on it. I have also seen trim buttons that can be attached to the control as a separate button on the lever. I am sure there is a logical way to wire it.

Unfortunately I don’t sources for you as I have only been collecting used mercury trim parts for older outboards. The trim switch on the control lever is nice as you can “trim” the drive on the fly easily by ear and speed, bumping it up and down as needed with one hand.

 

[Chris1956]

Mercruiser (and Merc outboards) used a 3 button control for a number of years. On those, the bottom button trimmed/tilted the drive down.

The middle button trimmed the drive up until the trim limit switch opened.

Pushing the top and middle button together, tilted the drive up all the way.

The trim limit switched often failed, leaving just the tilt (top and middle buttons) working.

To restore the original function you would need a toggle switch plus a push button for tilt up. Of course, that works only if the original trim limit switch still works or can be fixed.

 

[fishrdan]

The trim limit switched often failed

Agree, and that trim limit switch on the drive is NLA. 50 years isn't kind to a rubber booted switch and it's most likely shot, mine was bad 20 years ago... Same for the 3-button tilt/trim/down switch, doubt you'll find a "new" one. There are probably used ones on Ebay, but a new generic up/down momentary switch is probably the same price.

I have a 72 Mercruiser and ditched the 3-button switch when I installed a new Mercruiser/Quicksilver 2000 remote control with the tilt/trim switch built into the shift handle. Works great, just have to be mindful to not tilt too high with the engine running, since there is no trim limit.