How to use Bennett Tabs?

[Grant Brown]

I have a 20 foot Spectrum Aluminum open bow deep v. It weighs about 1500lb and has a 4.3l mercruiser I/O.
It has Bennett Trim Tabs and I'm having trouble adjusting them. They seem counter intuitive like they're hooked up wrong.
When I want the port side down, the starboard side goes down etc. It's kind of unnerving at 20mph with kids sitting in the bow, a cross wind and small chop!
Maybe it's me but I have heard great things about them but they are so twitchy on my boat is scary. I use them like the Bennet web site says, in small, short clicks and then wait for the reaction. Maybe my boat is so bow light that it react more than a heavier boat would.
Anyone have any tips?
Grant

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

They are only counter intuitive because you?re looking at things backwards.

Functionality: To push the starboard bow down you need to pick the rear, port side of the boat up. To push the port side bow down, you need to pickup the rear, starboard side of the boat.

Operation: Two things to remember.
1. Pushing the button towards the bow lowers the bow. Pushing the button towards the aft raises the bow.

2. The starboard switch moves the starboard bow and the port switch moves the port bow.

If you want the starboard bow to come down you push the starboard button forward. If you want the starboard bow to come up you push the starboard button ?back?, OK?


Your bow acting up is caused by using too much tab. You want as little tab in the water as possible to make the correction you need. Otherwise you?re pushing the bow down too far causing the bow wonder your experiencing. From the full up position, my starting tab position is to put the tabs down for a count of 1001, 1002, that's it.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

Thank you for the intelligent reply. I have the old style "joystick" style controls. The markings on the base of the stick is almost completely worn off and is impossible to read while underway.

I am sure the newer rocker switch design is easier, maybe I ought to buck up for an upgrade.

When I got the boat the tabs were nonoperational due to fluid leaks. I went through the system and fixed everything but maybe it's leaking somewhere and causing problems.

I just can't believe these things are working right but I've been wrong many times before...

Grant

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

Not a fan of the joy stick. I had one on my first boat and swapped it out after month or so. The rocker switches are much easier to use.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

I have the old style "joystick" style controls. The markings on the base of the stick is almost completely worn off and is impossible to read while underway.
When I got the boat the tabs were nonoperational due to fluid leaks. I went through the system and fixed everything but maybe it's leaking somewhere and causing problems.

Ayuh,... Sounds like you mighta gotten something Backwards,...

I've got the toggle switch,... No need to Read it,...
If I want the portside bow Down,... Push the button in that direction...

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

I didn't find any leaks in the system so I just bought a retrofit kit to go from the joystick to rocker switches.
I think the rocker switches will make a huge difference - they seem to make way more sense.
Will post again when I get them installed and tested.

Grant

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

So I got the new switch installed and it seems that my red wire and green wire was hooked up backwards (wasn't me). I changed their positions on the switch and all was working well, but not for long.

Now the starboard side bow up no longer works unless the port side bow up switch is also pressed. Pressing bow up starboard by itself does nothing (maybe a faint click). When I connect jumpers to the screw terminals (orange + yellow, red) the tab works as it should.

I am thinking this must be a problem with the switch considering the tabs go up and down together just fine and the other one works fine as well.

Any ideas before I go and buy a new switch?

Thanks,
Grant

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

You could be by-passing a bad wire or connection further down the circuit. I'd trace the wire out before buying another switch.

Operation=Reaction
Orange (+), blue, red= Port trim tab down
Orange (+), blue, green=Starboard trim tab down
Orange (+), blue, red, green= Both trim tabs down
Orange (+), yellow, red= Port trim tab up
Orange (+), yellow, green=Starboard trim tab up
Orange (+), yellow, red, green= Both trim tabs up

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

I did all the tests and they all check out fine.
The tab works fine when jumped. The tab only goes up when the other tab is lifted at the same time.
The other tab goes up and down fine but the port tab won't raise up on the switch by itself.

Grant

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

Sound like you need a new switch

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

Is the switch solid state or can they be fried? I didn't disconnect the wires from the switch when I was testing. It seemed to work fine before.
I know, I know, the instructions said to remove the wires... Hope I didn't make a $100 dumb-***** shortcut mistake.

Grant

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to use Bennett Tabs?

Is the switch solid state or can they be fried? I didn't disconnect the wires from the switch when I was testing. It seemed to work fine before.
I know, I know, the instructions said to remove the wires... Hope I didn't make a $100 dumb-***** shortcut mistake.

Grant

The switch is a set of hard contacts.

The reason they have you disconnect the wires is to remove the switch from the circuit. All you've proven at this point is that the motor works if you run jumpers off the switch. Now you need to determine if you need the jumpers becouse of a bad switch or something in the wiring between the switch and the motor .

My money is on the switch but I'll defer final judgement to you.