Trim switches are both backwards

[Dave-R]

Checking out a new to me 2001 226 Cobalt, both the Control handle trim and the aft trim switch are reversed. Any Ideas where to start checking? The drive is a Volvo Penta Duoprop
Thanks Dave-R

 

[kjsAZ]

I don't know your boat but there were some geniuses at work for some companies which decided to run the trim switches (outdrive and trim tabs) to match where the bow moves when you push the buttons. Could well be that your Cobalt falls into that group..... If that's the case you would have to swap the wiring at the solenoids for up and down. It's easier there as otherwise you would have to change it at both switches.

 

[Thalasso]

I dotabs)n't know your boat but there were some geniuses at work for some companies which decided to run the trim switches (outdrive and trim to match where the bow moves when you push the buttons. Could well be that your Cobalt falls into that group..... If that's the case you would have to swap the wiring at the solenoids for up and down. It's easier there as otherwise you would have to change it at both switches.

Why would you be so critical of something that is normal. How do you think they should be?
Any boat i have had (it's been a few) has been this way.

 

[kjsAZ]

Maybe I expressed it wrong. In 99.9% of boats the drive trim switch is wired correctly. If you push the lower side of the button (or the lower button) the drive goes down and the bow goes down. With most trim tab switches you push the UPPER button to get the bow down (equals trim tab down) like you would use your finger to put weight on your bow. Unfortunately I have seen 3 boats with drive trim switches in the helm and not at the control which were wired like the trim tab ones.
The international convention for switches is that if you press the lower side it lowers and the upper side to raise.
Easy to fix by just swapping 2 wires......

 

[Outsider]

The international convention for switches is that if you press the lower side it lowers and the upper side to raise.

Uhhh, 'lowers' and 'raises' what? The three I've owned were all marked "BOW DOWN" on the upper portion of the switch. When pressed, the tabs go down and the bow follows ...

 

[kjsAZ]

well, lowers bow and drive or tab or raises either one.
Must be perfectly logical to some to use the drive trim with the lower button to lower the bow and drive and then do the trim tabs and use the opposite button(s). My first two boats were wired identical for both and the 3rd one was re-wire after one outing.

 

[bruceb58]

I have owned a bunch of boats and never seen the switch for the drive tilt wired anything but "switch down drive down".

 

[kjsAZ]

that's what I said: 99.9% are that way for teh drive trim but I have seen 3 boats which had it the other way (which makes these 3 like most trim tab switches).....

 

[H20Rat]

So my two current boats are both wired differently! (by choice!) On the deckboat, pushing on the top of the throttle mounted trim switch lifts the drive up. 99% of the time, that drive is down all the way, and really only moved up for trailering/shore parking. On the other hand, my jet boat has the hydraulic ride plate, and the control is mounted on a flapper behind the steering wheel. It is set up airplane style, which fits the style of boat well. Pushing down on that one raises the trim plate which also raises the nose, which feels natural for the boat.