tilt and trim question early 70's style???

[Gomer50]

I have the old style tilt and trim with the three buttons.when I tilt/trim down I only need to push the down button but when I want to trim/tilt up I need to hold both the middle one and the top one.This is a royal pain trimming out cruising down the river @ 35+ MPH watching for sand banks etc.Is there a way to bypass this and use a 2 way toggle switch?I'm not real bright when it comes to electrical things.
Mercury 1978 90hp 15ft starcraft

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Is the top button working by itself? (if you only push it will the motor go up) It is to use when you are running the motor, there is a trim sensor that only allows it to go so high. The purpose is so you will not trim the motor out of the water while running wide open. You know because you will loose steering..LOL When you press both buttoms, that is to make it go past that point to load on a trailer. You can disconnect the trim sensor...but first is the top button working?

 

[Gomer50]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

The top button only works when pushing the middle and the top other than that no.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Then I'm pretty sure just the top button is out. If you can take it apart you can check for sure. That happened to me, but my control box was a little different. And yes you can use a toggle switch I did that also on another boat, however if you not real electrical inclined I would say just get another top switch.

 

[Gomer50]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

I will have to take a look.Is this anything like a window switch?On my bronco my rear window switch took a dump so what I did was use a toggle switch.I used one 12+ for the top connector and the other 12+ for the bottom and ground for the middle.When toggled up window motor spins one way.When toggled down window motor spins the other way.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Yep. I used a rocker switch. So that way when you let off it will stop. If not you might run into the steering with not motor in the water again.

 

[Gomer50]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Thanks so much,I think thats the way I will proceed.Did you use any specific rocker style switch?

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Gomer, the normal operation of that switch is not exactly as you described.

Trim down/in = bottom button
Trim up/out = middle button only
TILT up = middle AND top button

On the original install, there was a trim limit switch in the starboard trim cylinder mounting bracket to prevent the motor from raising out of the water while under power. Pressing the middle button bypassed the trim limit switch and while pressing the top button at the same time operated the trim up operation allowing the motor to be fully tilted out of the water. Most of those old switches stopped working long ago and people ended up just bypassing the limit switch.

If that is the case with yours, you should be able to use only the bottom and middle switch for down and up respectively.

Here is a wiring diag of the system for your reference.

 

[Gomer50]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

If I got this right just take the purple wire and tie into the blue wire bypassing the limit switch.

 

[merc850]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

The limit switch is adjustable: "Turn limit adjustment nut out counterclockwise if engine tilts out too far or turn it clockwise if engine doesn't tilt out far enough." But you shouldn't run engine with swivel bracket trimmed beyond clamp bracket tilt pin flanges at hi speeds.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Those trim limit switches break all the time. Just bypass it. You should be able to unplug the limit switch and put a jumper (bullet connectors) across the PTT harness. Now you can just use the middle button for trim and tilt.

 

[grzzzz]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Ran into a road block on my restoration over the weekend. I have a "pre-anything" so it seems. I need a pump and cylinders for my 66-67 Holiday restoration. I am told it is the first models even put on. I am running into dead ends at all suppliers. Their books don't go back to the 110 horse power cruzers so to them...... they never were.

 

[Gomer50]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

You might have some luck on ebay,and yes these are hard to come by.Good Luck

 

[Gomer50]

Re: tilt and trim question early 70's style???

Oh and by the way Jumping those wires works perfect.Many thanks..