Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

[sundowner205]

Hi guys,

Thank you all for the help in the past. So last nite while heading out of the harbor, worked up to planing speed, trimmed her out, got up to about 35-40 mph and she started listing heavily to starboard...attempted to compensate with the tabs but to no avail. Went back to the mooring, and I got in the water with my dive mask, had my buddy work the tabs, and to make a long story short, one of the tab actuators is not working - the tab is stuck down pretty far - hence the listing. If I compensate with the other tab the boat won't accelerate over 30mph due to the additional drag from the tabs being down...


So...can I adjust the trim tab anode on the outdrive to temporarily fix this until I feel like pulling her out of the water?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

no that trim tab controls the torque steer not listing or planing. the best you can do is disable both tabs, and let them hang free. which will effect reverse.

 

[QC]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

There is another option . . . I had the same happen once. You can loosen the correct hydraulic line fitting and manually push the tab up while the fluid spews out and then tighten the fitting when you get to where you want to be. Takes two people . . .

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

The tabs are spring loaded in the up position so its quite possible that it's an electrical problem.

I would first check to make sure it isn't a wiring issue. It?s quite possible that one of the wires in the retract circuit is corroded or broken. Remove the helm control and touch the Orange (+), yellow, green wires to raise the starboard tab and the Orange (+), yellow, red wire to raise the port tab. If the pump runs but the tab doesn't move you have a problem with the actuator. If the pump doesn't run then you have a wiring problem or a problem with the hydraulic unit.

If worst comes to worst you can always resort to pulling the hydraulic line as QC mentioned in hopes that the actuator isn't completely bound up.

 

[sundowner205]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

no that trim tab controls the torque steer not listing or planing. the best you can do is disable both tabs, and let them hang free. which will effect reverse.

Alright then, I'll try to isolate the problem this evening ...and just in case I cannot isolate the source of the problem what is the best way to disable them - just disconnect the lines to the actuators and retract them manually as QC suggested? Thank in advance

 

[QC]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

Oh, oh . . . dingbat's post reminded me of sumpin' . . . When mine failed it was actually a module/relay/breaker type thing deal that is designed to prevent the tabs from being operated in opposite directions at the same time i.e. one up and one down simultaneously. So this deal thing trips a breaker if you do that. Anyway . . . it turned out that my "module" was actually bad and the result was one tab stuck down. The muy bueno super duper good news is that it is simply placed in-line and all that you need to do to troubleshoot it is unplug the wires from both ends and plug those wires together (I believe it is four wires arranged flat like a trailer wire harness). The "module" thing is roughly the size of a cigarette pack and it mounts near the hydraulic unit. It is not necessary at all if you do not screw up . . . Fixed mine and I never replaced it although Bennett said they would ship me one for free. If I recall correctly, the breaker automatically resets so that requires no attention either . . .

Bennett does link to a free Operators Manual on-line that can be helpful as well . . .

 

[QC]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

what is the best way to disable them - just disconnect the lines to the actuators and retract the it manually as QC suggested? Thank in advance

Clarification, just the one that is giving you trouble . . . You can try and place it in a good overall usage spot and then you still have the other one to lift or drop to correct for any other conditions. At least they are then somewhat usable still. You have to have good communication and speed on the fitting to do this . . .

 

[sundowner205]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

Oh, oh . . . dingbat's post reminded me of sumpin' . . . When mine failed it was actually a module/relay/breaker type thing deal that is designed to prevent the tabs from being operated in opposite directions at the same time i.e. one up and one down simultaneously. So this deal thing trips a breaker if you do that. Anyway . . . it turned out that my "module" was actually bad and the result was one tab stuck down. The muy bueno super duper good news is that it is simply placed in-line and all that you need to do to troubleshoot it is unplug the wires from both ends and plug those wires together (I believe it is four wires arranged flat like a trailer wire harness). The "module" thing is roughly the size of a cigarette pack and it mounts near the hydraulic unit. It is not necessary at all if you do not screw up . . . Fixed mine and I never replaced it although Bennett said they would ship me one for free. If I recall correctly, the breaker automatically resets so that requires no attention either . . .

Bennett does link to a free Operators Manual on-line that can be helpful as well . . .

Thanx QC, I'm going to try this tonite when I get home - my tabs are Bennets as well...so just unplug the harness at both ends to bypass the module...awesome!

 

[sundowner205]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

I just looked at the Bennett online diagram for the entire system...I located the flat four-wire plug that you were referring to QC, however it seems that Bennett has eliminated the relay/circuit breaker box because it is not on the diagram....hopefully my system has it and is indeed the culprit for the stuck actuator...

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

Hold on folks. If they are Bennett's then your problems are already solved. Just get a hold of the Tabman or Tabman II here and they will fix you up. There is no better customer service then Bennett in the business. For that matter in any business!

 

[sundowner205]

Re: Bad Trim Tab Actuator, Will This Fix Listing Temporarily?

So....no relay module/box - looked everywhere...I suppose I'm going to have to disconnect the hydraulic lines, retract the stuck tab, and let them hang free until I pull her from the mooring field....boat is still listing HEAVILY at speeds greater than 25-30 mph....details to come...