Honda trim gauge inaccurate...

[rup]

Does anyone have a similar problem with a trim gauge and 225hp outboard or more importantly know how I can fix the issue. Basically the engine can be almost half way up but the needle is still in the down position. Eventually it catches up but it not at all reliable!

[Trailer Bloke]

Hi

Change the sender

I have had two break this year already

Seems to be the only real weak point on all the larger honda engines

The sender is about £60 and takes 20 minutes to fit

[jyasaki]

Might try taking the sender off and lubing it up first (assuming you can get it apart. You can with Yammies.) It's basically a spring loaded lever driven by the motor position, connected to a potentiometer that relays arm position. When it sticks, the lever doesn't track the motor, and you get a down-position trim reading.

jky

[Bigmuz7]

Mines no good either on my 90, infact I havent had many that were all that good. I think the problem looks like a set up issue on mine, it does move with the trim as you say but just not at the right place, I havent investigated it yet but wonder if its just a case of re setting the position of the sensor ?

[jyasaki]

Sensor position should be adjustable, at least to some degree.

Put the motor all the way up and move the sensor arm manually while someone watches the trim indicator on the dash. That'll tell you if the sensor is working.

Assuming that works, manually lower the sensor arm until the indicator goes to full-down. That will give you an idea of where it needs to be. Loosen the mounting screws and reposition the sensor to approximate that position with the motor down.

jky

[Trailer Bloke]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Sensor position should be adjustable, at least to some degree.

Put the motor all the way up and move the sensor arm manually while someone watches the trim indicator on the dash. That'll tell you if the sensor is working.

Assuming that works, manually lower the sensor arm until the indicator goes to full-down. That will give you an idea of where it needs to be. Loosen the mounting screws and reposition the sensor to approximate that position with the motor down.

jky

The only way you can adjust them is by undoing the mounting bolts and taking out the s/s spacer tubes then rebolting up the unit- this sometimes works but it is easier just to buy a new one

[jyasaki]

Okay;

Mine is mounted to a shaft, as I recall; just turn it a bit to calibrate.

Don't know how Honda's are mounted.

jky

[ben tye]

does anyone really use trim instruments, if you cannot tell if your boat is not trimmed properly for the wind/wave conditions you should not call yourself a driver. twisting the head always seems to work quite well.

[jyasaki]

Do you ever look at the speedometer in your car? Or a thermometer? Or a fuel gauge?

None of those should be absolutely necessary, either, but they do convey information. More info is usually better than less.

jky

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Do you ever look at the speedometer in your car? Or a thermometer? Or a fuel gauge?

None of those should be absolutely necessary, either, but they do convey information. More info is usually better than less.

jky

Thats it .. I dont really use mine either, but if its there and working, I'd prefer it to be working properly in case someone less experienced perhaps, needs to drive the boat

[Bigmuz7]

Well I investigated mine today, and it doesnt look like its adjustable , which is pants, when you think that the outboard will get installed on all sorts of transom angles. I'll take a photo of it, but its an arm bolted to the engine bracket that locates onto the outboard body as it comes down.. My normal running position is near its base, so the guage is off the bottom of the scale when set for normal running,..

I cant believe its not adjustable ... do you think there could be some sort of calibration on the guage its self ? , cos its just a potentiometer I think

[Chris]

What was the fix for this, ours is doing the same having just fitted a new sender. I am going to try another gauge to see if that helps first but there is no adjustment on the sender as the arm is keyed to the shaft on the sender.

Any suggestions?

(Realise this is an old thread BTW !)

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Chris

What was the fix for this, ours is doing the same having just fitted a new sender. I am going to try another gauge to see if that helps first but there is no adjustment on the sender as the arm is keyed to the shaft on the sender.

Any suggestions?

(Realise this is an old thread BTW !)

I never got my teeth into in the end mate, and sold the boat on , but like I said.. there maybe some offset available on the guage ?

I cant remember the way it looked .. but could the arm be modified to alter its length perhaps?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

but could the arm be modified to alter its length perhaps?

The way the arm is fitted to the shaft is that is has a flat section so that you cant rotate it on the shaft so that rules out any changes there.

[mick]

One of mine didn't work got it replaced.

[Chris Caton]

had similar problem last year, switch just needed a bit of lubrication, but gauges do seem to suffer from moisture