Trim Problems...please help

goblenick

Cadet
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
24
Just when I think I've got my boat ready for the summer more problems arise. I went to put it on the trailer Sunday and to my dismay the trim does not raise. I pulled off this lines, lifted the outdrive and tied it up to make it home. So far I've determined: Battery power is good, Up solenoid is good (I replaced it), power is making it to the trim switch on the throttle and back out, power is making it to the port side limit switch (I haven't checked the starboard, but it doesn't look like the upper wire is running to it). This is where I'm stumped. I pulled the limit switch off, but I was unable to figure out how it worked. Does anyone have a link to an article on how these are supposed to work along with adjustment/instalation procedures? If the current is supposed to run back up on the other wire I think I have a ground somewhere on the return wire (the one that runs back in to the boat). How do these wires run through the transom? Do I have to take my outdrive off to figure out where its grounded? Any advice is very much appreciated.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Trim Problems...please help

Soooooo, what are we working on here? Merc, OMC, Volvo, Year, Model numbers, etc?
 

goblenick

Cadet
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
24
Re: Trim Problems...please help

Soooooo, what are we working on here? Merc, OMC, Volvo, Year, Model numbers, etc?

My bad...rookie mistake.
The boat is an 89 Sea Ray Bowrider 200 with the 4.3 Merc and an Alpha One (gen 1) drive.
 

goblenick

Cadet
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
24
Re: Trim Problems...please help

Unfortunately I can't. I've done all the steps in this article and got stumped when current hit the limit switch on the outdrive. I can't find how these work in this article. Is the limit switch supposed to relay the current through it and back into the boat, or do something else? My guess is that is relays it back in when the two pads inside are connected to each other. If this is the case, then the wire going back in is grounded out and needs to be replaced. I need and article or instuctions on how to replace this wire and install/adjust the limit switch if anyone has it. This is the only thing I think it can be unless I'm missing a piece to the puzzle somewhere.
Thanks for the help!
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Trim Problems...please help

Click here and look at pages 1C-15 to 17 for the wiring diagrams.
 

goblenick

Cadet
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
24
Re: Trim Problems...please help

Got it figured out...THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!
Turns out it was the UP solenoid. I replaced it yesterday and it was still a no-go. I spent a couple hours last night and a couple more tonight troubleshooting (and pulling my hair out tracing wires) to find out that I had accidently hooked a ground wire to the positive side of the new solenoid. I'll partially blame wasted time due to the lack of the wiring diagrams I had only showing the UP/Down portion of the switch and not showing the way the Trailer switch worked. I know that's not a good excuse, but it would have helped to know how it worked. I got in such a hurry yesterday trying to get it fixed that I didn't even realize that I had hooked it up wrong...then I wonder why the solenoid didn't fix it. Its only by luck that I noticed what I had done wrong. I was sure MY work was done correctly. Just goes to show you that you need to take the time to double check yourself.
 

wcsparky05

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
204
Re: Trim Problems...please help

DON S, when will we start paying you??? :)
 
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