Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

[Tabman]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Almost forgot, you mention one seems more limited in movement, when you have run them up ad down a bit see if you can measure the total travel of each one and let me know. Also let me know if the retract to the same level when fully up.

 

[LazyCruiser]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

WOW !!
That's a lot to digest while I drink my wine tonite!
Great stuff

Ok, off to the boat soon and I am bringng the laptop to watch movies & google some,,,,,,,and stop back by this forum.

Thanks - I am sooooo pumped!!!

 

[skargo]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Congrats Sarah!

Awesome info Tabman!

 

[boltonranger]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Congratulations Sarah!!!
I love when things end this way.
I'm jealous of your relaxing plan - nothing better than being on the boat with your dog.
Well maybe I'll get there tomorrow,
just couldn't seem to make it out of the driveway today.
Cheers;
br

btw Kudos to the tabman -AWEsome posts.

 

[LazyCruiser]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Hello again......

Today I measured the amount of movement from each tab and as I suspected they're not quite equal. One moves 4.5" and the other 5" exactly. This difference is obvious w/the tabs set at max, the boat lists a lot to port until I touch the bottom trim tab switch on the port side.

So anyways, about one 1/2 inch difference.
Significant, yes?

 

[Tabman]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Hello again......

Today I measured the amount of movement from each tab and as I suspected they're not quite equal. One moves 4.5" and the other 5" exactly. This difference is obvious w/the tabs set at max, the boat lists a lot to port until I touch the bottom trim tab switch on the port side.

So anyways, about one 1/2 inch difference.
Significant, yes?

Sarah,

When both Trim Tabs are fully retracted are they level with each other? Or is one retracted a bit higher? When you look at the actuators when they are in the full up position is there about an inch of piston shaft showing on both of them?

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

 

[LazyCruiser]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Hi!
Thanks,,,

When they're up, they're even.
It's when they've been deployed, one goes down further than the other - the port side has more travel by about a half inch

 

[Tabman]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Ok,

We measure travel at the actuator shaft and the standard travel is 2-1/2" inches. We make a few different actuators, mostly for boat builders.

I suspect that at some point someone replaced an actuator on one side of the boat with one that was different than the original unit.

This is not something we can fix with the boat in the water.

Two questions:

Can you live with it until you haul the boat for the season?

And when you do haul it can you measure the travel at the shaft for me?

If you can do that I can swap out the parts you need to make them operate evenly, and walk you though how to do that.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

 

[LazyCruiser]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Ok,

We measure travel at the actuator shaft and the standard travel is 2-1/2" inches. We make a few different actuators, mostly for boat builders.

I suspect that at some point someone replaced an actuator on one side of the boat with one that was different than the original unit.

This is not something we can fix with the boat in the water.

Two questions:

Can you live with it until you haul the boat for the season?

And when you do haul it can you measure the travel at the shaft for me?

If you can do that I can swap out the parts you need to make them operate evenly, and walk you though how to do that.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

I can most definately leave it be 'till haulout time - 3 wks away.
I probably confused you with the way I measured and I said it wrong as well. Here's what I did. With the tabs up I could put 2 fingers on the exposed shaft of each tab. When I deployed them down, on one side I could put my entire hand with room for a little more. On the other side, it was more. If I had a five-fingered hand it woulda fit! So that pretty much agrees w/your 2.5 inch travel measurement.

Yes, this can definately wait and I will get back to you !!!
Thanks so much.
Sarah

 

[Tabman]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Very Good Sarah!

Just post here after the haul out, then I can send you the parts, and you can send the old ones back and there will be no charge. If you could take a picture of the stern when you haul out that would be great.

If it is what I suspect, the job is easy and will take about 1/2 an hour. We will leave the top of the actuator on the transom and just screw the bottom part off and screw a new one on. No need to fuss with the hydraulic lines or the screws in the transom. It will be another highlight in your rapidly growing boat mechanic resume


Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

 

[LazyCruiser]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

OMIGOSH
I'm speechless Tom
What an awesome offer that is..........

 

[livendive]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

Sarah,

If you have Bennett Trim Tabs I will be delighted to help you get them going.

Can you tell me how old you think they are?

Here is some basic troubleshooting to get you going.

Let me know what you find:

Fluid: Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) any type. Hydraulic Power Unit is self bleeding, running the Trim Tabs up and down 3-4 times will purge air from the system.

Fuse: 12 volt system use 20 amp in-line fuse on positive. (24v & 32v use proportionately smaller)

Red= Port Valve
Green= Starboard Valve
Blue=Motor Forward (pump pressure)
Yellow= Motor Reverse (pump retract)
Black on HPU=Ground
Orange on Helm=Control Positive

Troubleshooting
1.If one side is not operating reverse hydraulic lines on the front of the Hydraulic Power Unit to determine if the malfunction is in HPU or actuator / hydraulic lines. If after reversing the lines symptom shifts to the other side the malfunction may exist in HPU. If the symptom remains on the same side, malfunction may exist with the actuator / hydraulic lines

2. Is the unit receiving a solid 12 volts? Low voltage will some times cause the solenoids to not open preventing the tabs from moving even though the pump motor is running.

3. Conduct the following test:
Remove the wires from the helm control and touch together as follows:
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
If the trim tabs function correctly for each wire grouping then the switch is at fault. Also note that any loose or missing screws on the back of the switch (whether a wire is connected there or not) can cause the pump to malfunction.
This test may also be done right at the pump by substituting a "hot lead" for orange. There is usually a connector to the wire harness within a foot or so of the pump. You want to check this connection for corrosion. You may wish to cut the connector off on the pump side and try the test on bare wires.

4. If you suspect corrosion on the wire connector near the pump, cut it out, test as above and reconnect using butt splices.

Thanks for this! I just bought my new-to-me (1997) Silverton, and my first order of business was a $450 pump replacement. Port side now works, but starboard doesn't...it might have the first day I launched. In any case, I'll go thru this checklist tonight to see if I can find my problem.

 

[Tabman]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

livendive,

Post what you find and I will be delighted to help!

This thread is getting a bit long, so maybe post a new one.

Tom

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Trim Tabs - Dead In The Water

livendive,

Post what you find and I will be delighted to help!

This thread is getting a bit long, so maybe post a new one.

Tom

GREAT information and good point about starting new thread. Sarah's issues and resolution appear different than what livendive is going through.