Help with wiring tilt trim unit on Mercury 50hp

Hey guys

I have a mid 1980's 50HP mercury outboard that i'm trying to wire up and Im stuck with the hydraulic pump for the tilt and trim. The problem I'm having is that the control box I have for the engine doesnt have a tilt/trim switch on it. I was wondering first of all is it possible to wire the tilt/trim motor up to an external switch? and how would I go about it?

Re: Help with wiring tilt trim unit on Mercury 50hp

You can use a spdt momentary switch or 2 spst momentary push button switches. You would need to run 3 16 gauge wires from the engine to the control. 1 wire would be the power wire from the battery which goes to the center terminal of the switch or to 1 terminal of both switches. Even if you have a hot line already in the harness it is best not to use it. Now you will need 2 marine rated solenoids to drive the pump. 1 of the big terminals of each solenoid needs to get 12 gauge wire with a 20 amp fuse run to the battery as well. You can use 1 of those terminals for your power feed to the controls if you like but it needs a 10 amp fuse. The other big terminals go to the pump. The blue wire is up and the green wire is down. One of the small terminals of each solenoid goes to the corresponding switch while the other small terminal goes to ground. The pump then needs a 12 gauge ground wire to the battery or suitable ground.

Re: Help with wiring tilt trim unit on Mercury 50hp

thanks heaps for that I shall give that a go if not I guess it could be pretty easy to sell the control box I have and buy one with tilt trim on it.