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Author Topic:   TRIM GUAGE NOT WORKING

PAUL S posted 07-07-2003 01:15 PM ET (US)
I HAVE A 4 CYL OMC ENGINE IN MY 1976 CHECKMATE. IT HAS WHAT THEY CALL "SELECT TRIM". THE TRIM AND EVERYTHING WORKS FINE, BUT THE GUAGE DOES NOT WORK. IS THERE A WAY OF TESTING TO SEE IF IT IS THE GUAGE OR IF IT IS THE UNIT THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR?
tarbaby posted 07-07-2003 03:03 PM ET (US)
I believe that there have been other posts on this topic before. I personally don't need a trim indicator. I trim the boat by feel, sound and by looking back at the wake and motor. Also, like any other electrical part on a boat, they fail. Most people opt to replace it with something else or leave it as is. I would guess that they have an expected life of a couple of years at most. Shay
Stellario posted 07-07-2003 06:48 PM ET (US)
I replaced my trim gauge with a Volt Meter. I tied it to the ignition circuit, and with the batt. selector switch I can check the relative state of charge of the house (deep cycle) and starting batteries.
Much more useful to me.
Steve,

PS. On my OMC the Trim tilt sending lead is the White/Tan wire, if you're looking to trouble shoot.
whalerajm posted 07-07-2003 06:53 PM ET (US)
No need for a trim gauge...Frankly, it's a worthless piecee of equipment...Trim by feel...proper trim is when torque is steering is eliminated or minimized.
Dick posted 07-08-2003 12:09 AM ET (US)
Paul
I am guessing that you are talking about an OMC 120/140 I/O.
The part number for the trim sender is 980946 but I highly doubt that it is still available.
Do what the others have suggested, fly by the seat of your pants.
Dick
where2 posted 07-08-2003 12:48 PM ET (US)
The sender mounts in the midst of the engine bracket. On mine, it is a black plastic bugger which occasionally fails to follow the trim status of the engine. On mine, (a 3cyl OMC), the easiest way to free it is to tilt the engine all the way up, then take a can of WD40 and spray the sender. From there, I work the sender follower back and forth until it is free to move with the spring which is supposed to allow it to follow the trim angle of the engine. Once the follower is free, turn the ignition to ON, and move the follower up and down with the engine raised. If it operates the guage, you had the really cheap repair.
If it does not operate the guage, then turn the ignition off, and check the wiring by disconnecting the leads and looking for a varying resistance on the sending lead to ground. Check to see that you have 12V to the guage when the ignition is ON. Check the ground lead for corrosion with the ignition OFF.
After you are satisfied that all options have been checked, then replace parts as necessary.
Yes, it's possible to trim by the seat of your pants. However, I actually find the guage somewhat useful in varying the wake for skiing, knee boarding and wake boarding.
Bigshot posted 07-08-2003 01:26 PM ET (US)
Trim guage? We don't need no stinkin trim guage!
I have a used one(OMC) if interested.
jimh posted 07-08-2003 10:22 PM ET (US)
The integrated instrument cluster for Yamaha outboards has a very nice trim gauge. I find it quite accurate and repeatable. It seems to offer nice resolution, too. With twin engines it is nice to see the trim gauges matched up and the engine trim matched up.

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Author	Topic: TRIM GUAGE NOT WORKING
PAUL S	posted 07-07-2003 01:15 PM ET (US) I HAVE A 4 CYL OMC ENGINE IN MY 1976 CHECKMATE. IT HAS WHAT THEY CALL "SELECT TRIM". THE TRIM AND EVERYTHING WORKS FINE, BUT THE GUAGE DOES NOT WORK. IS THERE A WAY OF TESTING TO SEE IF IT IS THE GUAGE OR IF IT IS THE UNIT THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR?
tarbaby	posted 07-07-2003 03:03 PM ET (US) I believe that there have been other posts on this topic before. I personally don't need a trim indicator. I trim the boat by feel, sound and by looking back at the wake and motor. Also, like any other electrical part on a boat, they fail. Most people opt to replace it with something else or leave it as is. I would guess that they have an expected life of a couple of years at most. Shay
Stellario	posted 07-07-2003 06:48 PM ET (US) I replaced my trim gauge with a Volt Meter. I tied it to the ignition circuit, and with the batt. selector switch I can check the relative state of charge of the house (deep cycle) and starting batteries. Much more useful to me. Steve, PS. On my OMC the Trim tilt sending lead is the White/Tan wire, if you're looking to trouble shoot.
whalerajm	posted 07-07-2003 06:53 PM ET (US) No need for a trim gauge...Frankly, it's a worthless piecee of equipment...Trim by feel...proper trim is when torque is steering is eliminated or minimized.
Dick	posted 07-08-2003 12:09 AM ET (US) Paul I am guessing that you are talking about an OMC 120/140 I/O. The part number for the trim sender is 980946 but I highly doubt that it is still available. Do what the others have suggested, fly by the seat of your pants. Dick
where2	posted 07-08-2003 12:48 PM ET (US) The sender mounts in the midst of the engine bracket. On mine, it is a black plastic bugger which occasionally fails to follow the trim status of the engine. On mine, (a 3cyl OMC), the easiest way to free it is to tilt the engine all the way up, then take a can of WD40 and spray the sender. From there, I work the sender follower back and forth until it is free to move with the spring which is supposed to allow it to follow the trim angle of the engine. Once the follower is free, turn the ignition to ON, and move the follower up and down with the engine raised. If it operates the guage, you had the really cheap repair. If it does not operate the guage, then turn the ignition off, and check the wiring by disconnecting the leads and looking for a varying resistance on the sending lead to ground. Check to see that you have 12V to the guage when the ignition is ON. Check the ground lead for corrosion with the ignition OFF. After you are satisfied that all options have been checked, then replace parts as necessary. Yes, it's possible to trim by the seat of your pants. However, I actually find the guage somewhat useful in varying the wake for skiing, knee boarding and wake boarding.
Bigshot	posted 07-08-2003 01:26 PM ET (US) Trim guage? We don't need no stinkin trim guage! I have a used one(OMC) if interested.
jimh	posted 07-08-2003 10:22 PM ET (US) The integrated instrument cluster for Yamaha outboards has a very nice trim gauge. I find it quite accurate and repeatable. It seems to offer nice resolution, too. With twin engines it is nice to see the trim gauges matched up and the engine trim matched up.