Annoying Trim Problem

88 Mercury Alpha 1 off a Mercruiser 5.7 350

Somehow over the weekend I lost the ability to trim up via the trigger switch. Yet the trailer mode works fine. Any ideas? I had to run all weekend using the trailer switch to trim my drive... ghetto.

I removed the switch and found if I touch the red(power) wire to the blue(trailer) wire it runs the drive up.. all the way. If I touch the red to the green wire, it runs the drive down. Nothing happens however when the red wire is touched to the purple(manual up, I assume) wire.

Also I removed the cover to my trim sender and found the white contact disk inside broken, so it is not registering the drives position, but I dont think the sender(not the limit) has any effect on how the drive operates does it?

Anyone have this problem before, thanks for any advice you can give.

Re: Annoying Trim Problem

Most like cause is a bad trim limit switch or wiring.
Here is the link to the troubleshooting section of the Merc service manual.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C1R3.PDF

Follow the troubleshooting steps, and you will find the problem very quickly.

Re: Annoying Trim Problem

What exactly does the trim sender (starboard) side do? Seems as though all of the controll is done though the limit switch(port). Is that correct?

Re: Annoying Trim Problem

The trim sender makes the gauge work. Who said anything about the trim sender, I said it's probably the trim limit switch.

Re: Annoying Trim Problem

Knot Waiting said:

What exactly does the trim sender (starboard) side do? Seems as though all of the controll is done though the limit switch(port). Is that correct?

Click to expand...

on my alpa 1 the starboard side switch senses the drive position for the trim gauge in the dash at the helm
port side cuts out the trim switch so you cant over trim and raise the drive to far while the motor is running

Re: Annoying Trim Problem

So I checked out the limit switch. Are the copper pick-ups suppose to ride on the copper plates or in the plastic portion. Mine are not anywhere near in contact with one another.