Trim up not working, Trailer up works... Any ideas?

[Merge360]

Hello all....

Haven't posted in a while, but, have a dilemma... Wondering if anyone can help me out!

2006 Sport 195... Mercruiser Alpha1... Took her out for the holiday weekend... Noticed immediately when getting on plane that she wouldn't trim up.... I was able to use the "trailer" up (and would show it to trim up on the gauge)...

Putting her back on the trailer later that afternoon, tried to trim up, nothing... But "trailer" works...

I've done a lot of research prior to this this post... Many say to check the "Trim Sender unit" on port side of the outdrive... Others say it's the actual button on the throttle....

Any suggestions from the CSR crew? I'll be looking at this indept next week... Just trying to get a good game plan together!!!

Thanks for any and all input!

 

[JimFromMD]

Sounds like the trim sender unit to me. At least that's more likely to fail then an physical switch. Be careful if you use the trailer button to raise the drive during operation. You can damage the gears in your outdrive if you operate the drive past where the trim limit would stop it (where it typically stops before you use the trailer button to raise the drive into its full-up position).

 

[Merge360]

JimFromMD...

Thanks for your quick response! I too was leaning to the trim sender unit myself, as I also feel that the switch might be a long shot! I appreciate the advice on not raising the drive too high while under operation.... I thought about that on the water and was terrified of damaging something vital! I was pretty cautious to say the least! Again, thanks for your response!

 

[Westie]

Just a clarification on the above posts. It's the trim limit switch on the port side that would cause this issue. The trim position sender is on the starboard side and sends an analog signal to the trim gauge.
It is possible to bypass the trim limit switch so that you can use the trim switch at the helm but it would now function exactly the same as the trailer switch.

 

[handtools]

+1 on the trim limit being the culprit. It's a pretty big job to change, basically have to take everything apart just like you were changing the bellows. I would jumper the wires at the trim pump where the trim limit plugs in so your trim switch works and just watch your trim gauge until you need to do a bellows replacement and replace the trim limit and sender (they are sold as a set) at that time.

 

[sideways]

NOTE: The limit switch is serviceable... Pull apart clean, lubricate, check seals put back together...

You can also splice the wires from the old to the new in situ.. I have done both with success.

This is a strategy to correct a 'non-critical (I use that term loosely)' function. i.e. you still have your trim gauge and can still operate trailer up.

 

[Scott9000]

Can you adjust the trim limit switch to different levels? I believe mine is suddenly out of alignment. On my 190 it doesn't seem to go as high on the gauge as it did a few weeks ago. I was able to get the prop to come out of the water a bit when I was at full up trim (not trailer trim) and I know I had to bump it down slightly now it stops much earlier.

For those with a 190 my trim up stops at the bottom line on the gauge now.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Can you adjust the trim limit switch to different levels? I believe mine is suddenly out of alignment. On my 190 it doesn't seem to go as high on the gauge as it did a few weeks ago. I was able to get the prop to come out of the water a bit when I was at full up trim (not trailer trim) and I know I had to bump it down slightly now it stops much earlier.

For those with a 190 my trim up stops at the bottom line on the gauge now.

This could be a combination of limit and position sender.

This needs to be adjusted to a specific spec based on the distance between the two ram bolts. The gauge has nothing to do with the "safe" aspect of this. Nor does boat model matter. If you get a service manual, it will be in there - I never remember the spec myself - I always just look it up. If you do this wrong, it will a VERY costly mistake (need a new drive). If you're at all unsure, hire a pro.