What is the purpose of Trim Sender

[Gerhard Peters]

I'm a first-time boat owner and doing repairs as I go along.

After replacing the engine and gimbal bearing etc I have everything working. I had it out in the water last weekend. I also figured out (with the help from Youtube) how to adjust the trim limit since I had it all apart.

What is the purpose of the trim sender if I don't have the gauge?

 

[alldodge]

Trim limit is to keep you from raising the drive past the safe limit. If the drive is raised past the preset limit the drive will no longer be supported on the sides. The prop can apply enough force to break things. Its also hard on the U joints.

Don't ever start the motor with the drive up past the limit even on a hose.

 

[achris]

Trim sender is for the gauge, nothing else.
Trim limit is as AD states.

 

[Gerhard Peters]

Another question semi-related. When I have the boat parked during the summer should I have the drive down all of the time or does it matter if it is up or down? I read someplace to have it down while in storage in winter time

 

[alldodge]

Its best to store with drive full down or close to it. With drive up it stretches the bellows and over time can cause it to tear. They last longer if kept down

 

[achris]

Another question semi-related. When I have the boat parked during the summer should I have the drive down all of the time or does it matter if it is up or down? I read someplace to have it down while in storage in winter time

Drive should be as close to full down, and the steering straight during any layup period. As AD (beat me to it, again :facepalm says, it stops the bellows getting a 'set' and being more prone to cracking.

It's in the owner's handbook.

Chris.......

 

[Gerhard Peters]

Ok, so I had the boat on the water. I want to install the trim sender gauge so that I know where the trim is at. What options do I have? Something aftermarket that I can I wire up to the Mercruiser trim sender?. My trim limiter does not seem to work either and will be taking off the sterndrive and replace both the trim limiter and trim sender

 

[alldodge]

Options are Merc or Sierra

 

[Gerhard Peters]

Since my boat does not come with the trim limit gauge is the wiring in place up to the dash or do I have to add the wiring? Basically is the boat ready for adding a trim gauge when it does not come with one?

My boat is a 1995 Bayliner 1850 LS

 

[alldodge]

Yes, there should be a brown/white wire coming from pin 10 on the engine harness. Gauge needs 12V purple and ground wire to work

 

[nola mike]

It really isn't necessary at all, you can trim it easily without the gauge. I have had mine working intermittently in the 11? years that I've had the boat. It's a huge pain to replace the sender, and if you don't have the wiring and gauge in place already, I'm sure you can find plenty of other time and money sucks on the boat to work on...

 

[Gerhard Peters]

@alldodge For your screenshot what is the page number from the Manual?

 

[achris]

Since my boat does not come with the trim limit gauge is the wiring in place up to the dash or do I have to add the wiring? Basically is the boat ready for adding a trim gauge when it does not come with one?

My boat is a 1995 Bayliner 1850 LS

That's very odd, as the gauge package with EVERY Mercruiser engine includes a trim gauge. The wiring is in the harness. At the dash end it'll be the brown/white wire. At the engine end you'll find a black and a brown/white with bullet connectors, waiting for you to plug the wires from the sender (also fitted from the factory)....

Chris......

 

[alldodge]

@alldodge For your screenshot what is the page number from the Manual?

Its in several manuals and depends on which motor you have, 1995 had different ones.

If you have a 3.0 then wiring diagrams start at section 4E and trim