I talked with the manufacture till I was blue in the face regarding these subjects. When I bought my boat new in 2010, with a Merc 60HP EFI ELPT 4S there was 'a lot' of things I didn't know at first about owning a boat, but have been learning as time goes on. One of them was that routine maintenance is scheduled by 'hours' instead of miles, something I didn't put much thought into when I first purchased my boat. So I asked both my dealer, and the manufacturer about the possibility of installing an in-dash hour meter for such purposes. Cause after reading such statements as the following, Many computer controlled engines (EFI/DFI) have a capability in the ECM that records engine hours but it is not displayed unless the appropriate gauge package specific to that engine series is installed. Otherwise, an inexpensive hour meter can be installed. I knew that there are 'possibilities.
Mercury 125 Trim Indicator Manualidades
Only to be told, 'that there isn't openings in the engines wiring harness to accept an hour meter.' I've also heard the same spiel about installing a trim sensor & gauge on this engine. What is your serial number? Can then send you the parts list which details the options.
GerryMy SN is 1C112547 I've tried Merc's website with no prevail, their online manual's are the reason why I purchased a service & parts manual for this engine. And I'm glad I did, even though I haven't read far enough in to the service manual to find anything relating the subject.
I've learned of many 'critical' factors, when it comes to preventative maintenance and upkeep. That were either stated in a conflicting manner, or not mentioned at all in my owners manual. Re: Installing Trim Sensor & Gauge, along with hour meter. You do not need an hour meter that has a lead that wraps around a spark plug wire. There are hour meters that need only a +12 volt and ground connection. After all, an hour meter is simply a clock mechanism that accumulates time rather displaying it in 12 hour fashion.
The two wires can be connected to 'I' (ignition) and ground terminal on any gauge on the console. The hour meter runs when the key is on. Yes - it will run with the key on and the engine off, but why would you do that since this engine is an EFI motor and ECUs draw a fair amount of power. Get the hour meter right here on IBoats. The trim gauge and sender is also available here on IBoats. All gauge connections again can connect to the same terminals on any other gauge. The 'S' sender wire comes from the engine via the engine harness.
Mercruiser Trim Indicator
Re: Installing Trim Sensor & Gauge, along with hour meter. At this point if I lived anywhere near Fond du Lac, WI I'd be making a personal visit to Mercury after what I just found out. All this time I've owned my boat, Mercury has been telling me that I don't have the option to install a trim sender because there is no openings in the engine's wiring harness. (Which I could easily debunk) So under the assumption that I'd have to install the sender kit along with a gauge, I began my quest above.
2001 Mercury 125 Outboard Manual
Well after learning everything that has been explained here, (which I've greatly thankful of) I hook the battery up to trim the motor to trailer position, only to see that there has been a trim sender installed all this time. So I crawl up under the console, and sure enough there is the striped brown wire. The manufacture just never installed a trim gauge. Re: Installing Trim Sensor & Gauge, along with hour meter. Just install the 'Smartcraft' Mercmoniter guage in place of the tach and you will have every thing you need plus extras wand you wont have to cut a hole anywhere!!!! Features & Functions Troll Control™ SmartTow™2 Trim Pop-Up Engine Trim RPM Boat Speed NMEA 2000/J1939 Digital Speed GPS Speed GPS Course & Speed Speed Sensor Fault Auto Speed Sensor Transition Oil Level Oil Temp Oil Pressure Low-Oil Warning Oil System Fault Fuel Used Fuel Flow Fuel Range Fuel to Waypoint Water in Fuel Fault3 Sea Temp Time of Day Horn Fault Ignition Fault Injector Fault Engine Alarms Battery Voltage Water Pressure Engine Horn Dot Matrix LCD Display System Link Range Con.
Just install the 'Smartcraft' Mercmoniter guage in place of the tach and you will have every thing you need plus extras wand you wont have to cut a hole anywhere!!!! Features & Functions Troll Control™ SmartTow™2 Trim Pop-Up Engine Trim RPM Boat Speed NMEA 2000/J1939 Digital Speed GPS Speed GPS Course & Speed Speed Sensor Fault Auto Speed Sensor Transition Oil Level Oil Temp Oil Pressure Low-Oil Warning Oil System Fault Fuel Used Fuel Flow Fuel Range Fuel to Waypoint Water in Fuel Fault3 Sea Temp Time of Day Horn Fault Ignition Fault Injector Fault Engine Alarms Battery Voltage Water Pressure Engine Horn Dot Matrix LCD Display System Link Range Con Your reading my mind!!! Re: Installing Trim Sensor & Gauge, along with hour meter. Engine manufacturers have no idea what boat their engines are mounted on, what gauges if any are installed on that boat, and what the owner actually wants. Thats why these are called 'options'.
In fact, your engine was likely shipped from the factory without a prop since again, they have no idea what boat, what load, the engine will need to push. I and many other personally feel a trim gauge is a useless gauge unless you cannot see the engine.
The gauge is merely a reference as to where the engine is currently trimmed. The gauge does not tell you where the best trim position is. Seat of the pants is the best indicator. I would much rather have more useful gauges like water temp, water pressure, fuel, volts, tach and oil pressure if you have a four stroke.