Trailer trim button question

jimbabwe · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 9:10 pm

My Mercruiser had a trailer trim switch. I don't see a beach or trailer button or a gauge on my 2006 278 Vista,5.7 volvo gxi with dp. Am I missing something? How high can i lift my outdrive while in gear?

taz42169 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 02, 2015 9:43 pm

No trim guage on a 2006 278? That doesn't seem logical...AT ALL! It's not like you're running an OB where you can see the engine. PDF page 65 states you should have a gauge on your instrument panel. If you read up on it, there are limiting indicators on the gauge for trim limits while underway.

http://www.fourwinns.com/upload/Documen ... -Vista.pdf

jimbabwe · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:56 pm

I got back on the boat today and there is no trim gauge...AT ALL!!! There is a rubber plug in the spot where it should be but it is gone and the new parts are on the way. Luck has it that I know how to drive a boat with no trim gauge...AT ALL!!!

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:40 pm

Given you have a VP, it's highly likely that the sender has failed and the previous owner never bothered replacing it.
They're notorious for failing - even new ones! :evil:

If you know how to drive a boat, I'd save my cash and spend it on beer.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:01 pm

The trim gauge is about as useful as nipples on a man. I wouldn't waste your money reinstalling one. I ditched it on my H180 and if I had to redo the gauges on my chap it would also be removed in favor for something actually useful like battery level.

alex8q4 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:37 pm

I disagree, I want to know where my drive is, especially when I am heading in and out of shallow waters, or when I'm a little distracted while cruising. Also, it's nice to briefly glance at the cluster to confirm engine speed and trim position, engine temp, fuel level, oil pressure and voltage. Actually it would drive me nuts if one was missing or not working. What I miss on the 268 is the trim tab indicators I had on my Doral.

The 278 has lots of room, I would put it back... But that's just me.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:01 pm

How high can you run the trim with the engine running? According to the operators manual for my old '95 190 Horizon you can idle with it nearly all the way up. I have started the engine a time or two with the trim Full up and the drive would whip back and forth some for a bit at fast idle (1000rpm) before settling down. It would shake the boat. Above idle I would recommend keeping the drive no higher than 5 degrees or so above neutral ( cavitation plate parallel with bottom of hull.).

I agree with Alex that I would prefer to have the gage, just as I would want every other gage in the dash. You can operate a boat without any gage, but each gage is a tool and reference to help both a novice and an experienced boater. Its a lot easier to tell a rookie on your boat what to do with gages than by a "feel" that they don't recognize.

jimbabwe · **Posted:** Wed Jan 07, 2015 11:11 pm

The trim gauge on my sea ray never worked but it's a lot smaller and has half the draft than the Vista. I have read about the chronic problem's so it will be the one time I do it. I boat in a place were the shallow water starts far from the beaches so I am sure it will help as me learn my spots long as it lasts. Can I have the vp outdrive in gear while trimmed all the way up? The Merc. has a limit switch and a trailer mode. How are they different? And thank's for the input.

babbot1 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 570

A trim gauge is obviously not necessary but it is a great assistance. The first year we had our 258 the trim gauge did not work and it drove me nuts. I am used to outboards so I never "needed" one. The reason it drove me nuts was when trying to find full down the only way is by sound. I waited until it gave that hydraulic feed back sound and stopped. Not so easy when your running anything above idle. The sender was fixed under warranty which would have cost big $$.
The gauge isn't too expensive it is the sending unit. Verify that works because if I remember it was a rip off of over $200 from volvo.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2015 5:35 pm

Several Volvo packaged trim sensors can be found on ebay or other places for $130-140.

The Volvo SX and DP-SM and others I am familiar with do not have a limit switch or means to prevent engagement or operation of the drive when full up. So, yes the drive can be operated when full up. But I would not do it any more than necessary, if at all. If you do this you will notice issues at anything above idle. You may hear a rapid knocking or rattling sound because the driveshaft U joints are operating at a significant angle. You may also see the drive swinging back and forth at times when started with the drive full up.

jimbabwe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:24 pm

Thank's SI, that is the answer I've been looking for. I ordered the part's but in the mean time I know the limits of the outdrive in case the gauge doesn't last. I don't like to throw money away but I at least like to try to get every thing working properly.

www.iFourWinns.com

Trailer trim button question

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