Trim Stuck down intermittent

[mstevens]

97 Glastron 3.0LX Mercruiser Alpha One Gen 2 (260 hours)

My sterndrive is sticking in the full down position when I trim UP. The trailer switch will bring it out of full down and now very sporadically, the up switch will work. However the up/down switch works all other times, just not in full down. Fluid is nearly full (more than 7/8).

Should i worry about this? Have been told that if trailer button works, don't worry about it because it's an expensive wiring problem in the bellows, but what am I going to do if I can't get the stern drive up to put the boat on the trailer? Any advice is appreciated.

If I should fix, and it requires getting into the bellows, should I do alot more work such as a rebuild etc?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim Stuck down intermittent

Best guess is that you have a bad spot on your trim limit switch (round plastic switch on the port side of the gimbal ring). The switch has copper strip fixed to the switch housing and a contact on an arm fixed to the bellhousing hinge pin. When the drive moves up and down the contact moves across the strip, till it gets to the end where it loses contact (the limit) and disables the switch. The fact the switch works sometimes and the trailer works suggests that at full down the contact with the strip is broken by dirt or corrosion or something. The fix would be very carefully marking the position to the switch and the arm that goes into the hinge pin and disassembling and cleaning the contact and strip. You will probably have to readjust the switch position to give you 20 3/4 inches center to center on the trim cylinders (max up trim for gen II) Procedure is in manual # 14. sorry to be so long winded. Good luck.

Oh! almost forgot, don't worry too much, just touch the trailer button to get it off full down then use it normally.

 

[mstevens]

Re: Trim Stuck down intermittent

Stonyloam, thanks! Just to clarify..., don't worry about it? I assume that the trim limit switch is bypassed by the trailer switch? Lastly, should I pay to have this repaired and would this be an expensive fix? Thanks.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim Stuck down intermittent

Stonyloam, thanks! Just to clarify..., don't worry about it? I assume that the trim limit switch is bypassed by the trailer switch? Lastly, should I pay to have this repaired and would this be an expensive fix? Thanks.

I have been thinking about this, and it could be that your switch is not adjusted correctly, and at full down is losing contact with th strip at the down end. To make sure it is adjusted correctly: Run it down and then back up until it stops with the trim switch only. Measure center to center on the bolts that hold one of the trim cylinders. It should be no more than 20 3/4 inches for your gen II outdrive. If longer than that you need to readjust. Not too hard to do. Post your measurement, and we can go from there.

Yes the trailer switch bypasses the trim limit switch. The trim limit is important only at the up end, so if that is working you are OK. The switches are about $80, but it is a pretty labor intensive job, so yeah it would be a pretty expensive fix.

 

[mstevens]

Re: Trim Stuck down intermittent

Thanks. I am heading back out to the lake on vacation. It make take me a day or 2 to get back to you, but I will. The boat is currently out of the water due to storms so I should be able to get the numbers easily enough.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Trim Stuck down intermittent

Thanks. I am heading back out to the lake on vacation. It make take me a day or 2 to get back to you, but I will. The boat is currently out of the water due to storms so I should be able to get the numbers easily enough.

If you don't have a manual, the down loadable ones are gone so I can talk you through it if it needs adjustment.

 

[mstevens]

Re: Trim Stuck down intermittent

I think i have the manuals at home on my desktop. Ok, I got the numbers. Full down looked almost vertical and it was 16 1/4". And full up was 26 1/4". I looked at the set screw on both the left and right side and the left side had the screw at the top of the adjustment and the right side was in the middle. while I was using it today it was again intermittent at only the bottom end. Should I try and adjust that left set screw? However, it seems that 20 3/4" would be too short for my boat since full down was 16 1/4". Thanks.