Which drive indicator?
 

Whats better the long clamp on merc style or the little arm style that goes on where your trim sender was? Thanks :D

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

If you have the mec style you might not be able to retrofit to the type that fits to the trim sensor, it all depends on where the cable is located on the transom. I bought the Livorsi encapsulated style, looks much cleaner than the merc, but installed in the same location on the ram.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

I have the long clamp on style. It has gotten stuck several times. But, I am not sure if it was the actuator or the cable. This winter, I replaced the cable with one of those Ultra-Flex cables from TrickMarine. When I had the old cable out, it moved smoothly, so I am not sure what gives here. It did have a sharp bend to it. Maybe the Ultra-Flex will solve the problem.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

The small type that connects at the drive pivot seems to hold up better.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

I'm using the Livorsi type that goes where the trim sender was. It's worked good so far. Make sure you get those springs that take the slack out of the cable. Mine worked much better after adding the springs.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

I agree, this is the one I've had for 3 years. Works flawlessly.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

Sweet,I dont have any yet so I can make holes where I want them!Fred,does that one go on where the trim sensor is?

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

On the Merc HP transom it bolts right on. No modifications necessary.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

Basically yes. The one I posted a pic of is for the HP gimbal. We carry them for the standard Bravo gimbal also.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

I'm not too sure I agree with this. The top piece that has the barrel and set screw that holds the cable flexes when you turn the drives (boat) and the weld breaks :eek:

Unfortunately I know from personal experience!

The other issue is the amount of sensitivity to the actual gauge it has a short throw so you only show about 2.5 numbers until you hit full trim. The ram style shows about 5 numbers of usable trim giving you a lot more accuracy when your trying to touch up the drives into that sweet spot!

I will be changing mine over to the other style that attaches to the ram when I get motivated unfortunately it will require a total cable change.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

Scott,

I've found that the tube and spring type require pretty reqular maintaince. Most of my customers tend to go the other way.

That's not to say you're wrong. I'll follow up with Livorsi on your comments.

One of the slickest actuators is the Stainless Marine "no slack" indicator. Guy's that race request the Stainless Indicator pretty often.

Stainless Marine's No-slack indicators are recognized as the most accurate in the marine industry. All No-slack indicators utilize a triple-wound constant-force stainless steel spring to keep the inner cable under 4.3 pounds of tension. This results in a pull-pull operation instead of the push-pull found in every other indicator. Push-pull control cables have, by design, about 1/4" of slack built in which causes a major inconsistency in the readout. No-slack indicators have an inherent accuracy of a few thousandths of an inch. The indicator cable is exclusively used by Stainless Marine, and is flexible enough to make a 1" radius turn. Actuators are available for all late model V6 outboards, most sterndrives, most jackplates, K-planes, Bennett trimtabs. All actuators are available with Morse type cable attachment for Mercury, Bluewater, Livorsi, etc.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

Hey may be time to engineer something better! Sounds like they both have problems :( I will look into the Stainless Indicator (sounds expensive :p

After reading the Stainless explanation a Flexible cable may help with the Livorsi system to help take the pressure off that barrel. Something else that may work is a groove cut into the cable ferring that ataches to the barrel so the set screw will allow it to move side to side but not up and down!

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

I find that to be the case with mine too. I'm even with the "1" when full down, even with "2" at neutral trim, and not quite at "3" when trimmed for speed. It could be in part due to the hull's charactoristics. I don't need much positive trim to attain max speed.

Re: Which drive indicator?
 

No I think thats how they work, not enough throw compared to the ram style. Mine is exactly as you described.