Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

[Kwilson0824]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum but I have learned tons from other threads. I have a 1987 mercruiser 350v8 with a Alpha one gen 1 r/mr out drive (serial # 0B710463).

I bought the boat a while ago and the trim limit and trim sender didn't work when I bought the boat. The trim still would go up and down without a problem, but there wouldn't be the safety stop like the trim is supposed to have (stops at 21 3/4), it would just go all the way up. I replaced both the trim limit and sender and now I have a trim gauge ...and the trim limit works....BUT.. when you press the trailer the button from the full down position, the out drive trims up and stops at it's required stopping point (21 3/4). And when you press the trim up button from the full down position, the trim just goes all the way up.

I am guessing the trim up button and the trailer button are wired wrong somewhere, but I don't know where to start or what to look for.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum but I have learned tons from other threads. I have a 1987 mercruiser 350v8 with a Alpha one gen 1 r/mr out drive (serial # 0B710463).

I bought the boat a while ago and the trim limit and trim sender didn't work when I bought the boat. The trim still would go up and down without a problem, but there wouldn't be the safety stop like the trim is supposed to have (stops at 21 3/4), it would just go all the way up. I replaced both the trim limit and sender and now I have a trim gauge ...and the trim limit works....BUT.. when you press the trailer the button from the full down position, the out drive trims up and stops at it's required stopping point (21 3/4). And when you press the trim up button from the full down position, the trim just goes all the way up.

I am guessing the trim up button and the trailer button are wired wrong somewhere, but I don't know where to start or what to look for.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Meter the wires from the switch, at the pump, 'n switch the two that are reversed,...
You could also do it at the controller,...

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

This is how it should go: when you hit the trailer button current should flow through the switch into the b/w wire, back to the stern into a connector with a black limit switch wire then on through the b/w wire to the up solenoid. When you hit trim the current flows through the purple white wire through the limit switch back to the connector with the b/w wires to the up solenoid. So it sounds like someone switched the wires in the control handle switch.

 

[wrench 3]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

I went out this morning and looked at the wiring on mine. It's one year older but should be the same set up. There are no screw terminal connectors and no single wire plugs on the switch wiring, so some one would have had to cut and splice to reverse the wires. Actually I lied, there are two single wire plugs were the limit switch joins to the main harness but reversing these would have no effect. Anyway, the wires would have to be switched somewhere between these single plugs (they're within two feet of the pump) and the controls at the helm. Look for a spot where the harness has been spliced and taped. Logically they would do it at the easiest spot to access. However, logically, if the limit switch fails you just put a jumper across the the two single plugs and you have full travel on both switches. So there's no telling what they did.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

Yeah, could not remember what mine looked like. The diagram https://www.mercruiserparts.com/Sho...r=50&bdesc=REMOTE+CONTROL+ASSY+(W/POWER+TRIM) shows bullet type connectors, probably within a foot or so of the control. Look there if you can find them.

 

[Kwilson0824]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

Thanks guys! I sorta made some progress and confirmed the blue wire for the up button and the purple wire for the trim button are switched somewhere at the trim pump. I haven't had a chance yet to go back out and trace or test any connections, but I checked the remote control lever and swapped the purple and blue wires and BAM, the trim worked as it should.

So I just gotta trace all the wires and hopefully I'll find something.

Thanks for the advice and information!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

Thanks guys! I sorta made some progress and confirmed the blue wire for the up button and the purple wire for the trim button are switched somewhere at the trim pump. I haven't had a chance yet to go back out and trace or test any connections, but I checked the remote control lever and swapped the purple and blue wires and BAM, the trim worked as it should.

So I just gotta trace all the wires and hopefully I'll find something.

Thanks for the advice and information!

Ayuh,.... Yer wirin' is screwed up,....

Purple is Ignition,....

You should be switchin' a blue wire, 'n a green wire,...
Blue sky, is Up,...
Green grass is Down,...

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

Bondo, I think he is OK, the trailer b/w and trim p/w were switched, not the up - down.

 

[Kwilson0824]

Re: Trim up and trailer button wiring switched somewhere...HELP!

Yeah the power trim up button was blue and the trailer button was a purple and white. I didn't touch the green wire.