Power Trim Switch

[blued]

I finally got the boat out at the weekend and all went well other than my power trim switch seems to be a bit sticky. It still works but sometimes sticks in the down position. I've removed the switch from the control arm and taken it apart and it looks ok inside. From what I can gather the switch is returned to the middle by nothing more than the rubber that seals the switch unit. The rubber on mine is slightly cracked and probably at the end of its life. The switch is ok out of the control housing but when I put it back in it doesn't always return to the middle position.

I've done some searching but have not yet found the switch unit for sale. Does anyone know where I can get one? Or better yet the rubber seal on its own?

The control arm is a Quicksilver unit. Here is a picture of the switch:

[blued]

I've done some more digging and this looks to be what I need:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUICKSILVER-M ... 4ab6d226ce

or this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCURY-QUICK ... 4ab462ce70

It is wired differently though, I have a trailer switch on mine. I'm sure I could cut it in though and seal with heatshrink or similar.

I've not been able to find anything in the UK yet with that part number. I'll need to ring a few places tomorrow.

[blued]

Further searching and my control unit looks to be one of the Commander 3000 Classics from this list

http://www.hbmmercruiserparts.co.uk/pro ... tNo=889892

This leaves me with 2 possible switches -

3 87 18286A32 SWITCH ASSEMBLY, Trim/Trailer 1 superseded by 87-18286T32
superseding part 87-18286T32 SWITCH ASSY £45.10 £54.12

3 87 18286A31 SWITCH ASSEMBLY, Trim/Trailer 1 superseded by 87-18286T31
superseding part 87-18286T31 DESC SWITCH £45.10 £54.12

I'm really quite shocked at the price of this little switch, especially when they sell them in the US for $27 - http://www.boatstore.com/mercury-quicks ... 86a32.html

Still searching for a better price...

[Capn Jack]

Blued I hope you read this before you order a switch. I found out recently that sticking trim usually means one or two things....... solenoids or bad earth connections at the pump. there is a third option which Gaz explored which is pump motor brushes but that's usually if the motor fails complety.
Solenoid failure will cause exactly what you have described. Do you have a manual? The fix is described in the Mercruiser manual. I got a PDF version from the chaps on iBoats. I could send you my copy but I have an Alpha One and you have a Gen Two.
Actually I've just read a previous post where you had trouble with the trim and you said your engine is a '77 but in your Readers Boat post you said its a Gen 11. If its a 77 leg it might be a pre alpha.

[markanddawn]

I think Blued's switch itself is sticking, I had the same problem on my old Picton. Nothing to do with the trim function, just felt like a spring wasn't working or something to me. I had to wiggle the rocker switch to get it back to the "neutral" position, so it didn't keep trimming up. The old engineer told me I would have to change the whole single lever control unit, so I didn't bother but clearly you can buy the switch alone

[jokaboat]

Yet another bit of boat kit that's not up to the job? Mine sticks occasionally in the down position. I've got used to moving it back to the central position when trimming rather than relying on the spring in the switch. I minor thing but, like boat horns, they don't last.

[blued]

Hi guys, having had it apart I'm pretty sure it is the switch that is faulty. It is a basic rocker switch with no springs or anything to return it to the central position, it looks to rely on the rubber seal for that. Like joka's, mine sticks in the trim down position.

In the UK the switch costs £60. I really want to avoid paying that much on a small switch! They are less than $30 in the US but so far the cheapest postage quote I have received is $40

My boat is a 1993 with Alpha One Gen II Capn! It must have been a typo if I wrote '77 somewhere?!

[Capn Jack]

Oops didn't read it properly, I see what you mean now, it's the switch sticking rather than the trim.......

[Ed]

Can you not ask for them in the US just to stick it in a jiffy bad normal airmail? Should cost less than a tenner I'd think. Failing that a DIY alternative/rocker switch?

[blued]

I did reply to 2 different suppliers asking if it could go in a jiffy bag and haven't heard from them since. They all seem to want to use UPS.

A DIY solution could be worth a look. I imagine finding something that is both water proof and a rough fit could be challenging. I'd like to keep the trim switch where it is if possible. I'll maybe try calling a couple of places to see if I can talk them into sending it air mail or similar!

I wonder if I could modify the existing switch in some way, maybe a bit of rubber under the down position so that it requires a bit more pressure to push but returns to where it should do. I'm off to experiment...

[Ed]

You can def get rocker switches that would do the job, just wouldn't look the same!

[blued]

Something like this? I'd need to measure to see if they fit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5X-NEW-12V-DC ... 0673669807

It looks like one of the US suppliers can post a switch to me for $20 so it should be approx £30 all in. I think I might just go for it at that price. It will probably take a couple of weeks to get here but I modified my switch with a rubber band (!) last night and that will keep me going for now!

[Ed]

Provided its momentary and not a latching switch, that would do the job fine. But its not clear in the listing.