Opinion about trim limit switch

[Elbeau]

I've got an 83' StingRay with an Alpha One, Gen One drive. The trim sender switch is completely fried...I opened it up and it's hopeless.

The trim limit switch looks fine and works on my multimeter, but is not wired up (for some reason the old owner has both wires grounded...brilliant).

So, I am hoping for some help and/or opinions:

1. If I leave it as-is, am I risking anything much? ... I mean, I can trim down just fine and trailer-trim up just fine. I do have a hard time telling when exactly I'm all the way down or up, and it would be nice to know for sure, but am I at risk of hurting anything?...or is it just a nice-to-have?

2. Does anybody sell just the little elements that go inside the trim sender switch? ... it looks like If I could find those I wouldn't have to replace the whole switch to fix it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

I don't know of anyone that sells the individual contacts. I believe the replacement is sensor and sender all in one with a dummy for the opposite side. You might find one at a yard that scraps boat motors.
Without it you're trimming by feel and sound. I don't rely on the gauge.

 

[muc]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

Yes you can buy a sender rotor kit part number 805134A 4 . Its under $20.00 and is way easier to install than the whole assembly.
Good Luck Muc

 

[Elbeau]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

Yes you can buy a sender rotor kit part number 805134A 4 . Its under $20.00 and is way easier to install than the whole assembly.
Good Luck Muc

That part # looks like it's for gen 2 and bravo drives...will it work in my gen 1?

 

[muc]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

?That part # looks like it's for gen 2 and bravo drives...will it work in my gen 1??

I don?t know. It has worked in all the trim senders I?ve installed one in.
All the drives since the 70?s use the same sender kit ---- the part numbers have changed over the years ---- but they look the same. Only time we use anything different is when a digital sender is needed for DTS.
Good Luck Muc

 

[scutly]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

this might be what your lookin for. i bought one on ebay as well.

Mercruiser Trim Limit Switch Assembly

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

The trim limit switch looks fine and works on my multimeter, but is not wired up (for some reason the old owner has both wires grounded...brilliant).

The trim sender is not that important, experience and the boat performance will give you the feedback that you need.

The trim limit switch is nice to have. You can give it a try. Find the trim limit connectors back by the stern. Look for a purple/white wire connector and a connector with two blue/white wires. Plug the two black wires from the tl switch in (polarity is not important). Run the outdrive all the way down then up till it stops using the trim switch (if it works). At full up, measure center to center on one the trim cylinder's bolts. Should be within 1/4 inch of 21 3/4 inches. If not adjust length by loosening the tl switch adjusting screws. rotate switch CCW to lengthen stroke, CW to shorten (i think). Run down then back up and check length. If the tl switch does not work, you can jumper between the connectors and the switch on your control will work, but it will be the same as the trailer switch. Good luck.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Opinion about trim limit switch

......."I do have a hard time telling when exactly I'm all the way down or up"...

If you listen carefully while you're holding either button, when the limit of the rams is reached the tone of the pump will change as the relief valve opens. At this point, especially when trailering or storing, just 'bump' the opposite button to relieve system pressure from the rams.

As others have posted, the gauges become kinda useless once one developes the feel of his boat.