power tilt trim gauge hows it fitted

[Dino89]

posted in electric and rib forum as not sure where to put this one!!! i have a 1999 mercury 50 on 1990 avon 4m searider and with power tilt trim would like a gauge so i know where its at
how do they work and how do i fit one any advise appreciated no absolutely nothing about them so idiots guide would be good
also cheapest place to get one

[Pete7]

Dino hi,

Its a variable resister mounted on the port insdie area of the engine saddle (bit that fits to the transom), with a lever that is activiated when the steering tube assembly moves up and down. However the Yamaha ones are £100 last time I looked (1996) and the merc ones won't be cheap either. Most folks are happy to trim the engine by eye and guess fairly acurately when the prop is level.

I would spend the £100 on either a VHF or echo sounder, much more useful.

Pete

[Dino89]

thanks pete for that think your right thought a gauge would be no more than 40.00!!
i have a fisherfinder with depth is this the same sort of thing as echo sounder and vhf silva s12 handheld

[bogib]

Nice to see one from Stevenage where I would say is my second home.

We do power trim sender unit with gauge for nearly GBP 80 over here.

Bogi

[Pete7]

The £100 was for the sender unit, you might already have one fitted.

Yep echo sounders are the same as a fish finder, won't stop you running aground but will frighten you enough to slow down when it gets shallow as you contemplate £1200 worth of gearbox and the rocks below

[Swifty]

I bought a genuine mercury trim sensor and gauge kit. Firstly the mounting screws for the sensor were 90 degrees out!!! ended up drilling new mounting holes to make it work right. Other niggle is that it is not accurate. Engine trim has to move a fair way before the gauge catches up.

With hindsight would have been better off buying something more useful. Still live and learn.