hydrualic trim tab question

[jaxnjil]

the buttons on my trim tabs seem to be crossed but i'm not sure how there suppose to work
when you press the port button the starboard tab works and the same when starboard button-port tab.
is this normal or are they crossed?

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: hydrualic trim tab question

If these are Bennetts then that is normal and nothing to worry about.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: hydrualic trim tab question

thanks bob; they were working a little slugishly and i added oil. after i got the air out of the system and was working them i noticed the cross.
if you know what brand sea ray uses than thats what thay are as they came on the boat from the factory
what would happen if i crossed them to work same side to same side? is this an option or will it make something dangerous when i trim?

 

[Boatist]

Re: hydrualic trim tab question

Do not change them they are set up correcty.
If you have the dual rocker switches then your starboard switch will raise and lower the starboard side of the boat.
Push the top of the starboard switch and the starboard side of the boat will lower. What actually hapends is the port trim tab lowers.

Of course the port switch will have will raise and lower the port side.

This is the most logical way to have the switches and the way I have seen used on every boat.

Think of it this way the right switch or starboard is used to lower or raise the starboard side of the boat. If you want to lower the starboard bow you hit top of the right switch. To raise the starboard bow you hit the bottom of the right switch.

If the boat is level side to side and you want to bring the bow down then you hit the top of both switches. To raise the bow hit the bottom of both switches.

One thing you should never do is hit the top of one switch and the bottom of the other switch. The reason for this is when you hit the top of either switch the pump runs in foward and pumps fluid into the trim tabs.

When you hit the bottom of either switch the pump run in reverse and pumps fluid out of the trim tabs back into the resevior.


Bodega Bay Weather On May 14 2008 Improving at 10 PM
Winds North at 350 degrees true at 9.7 knots, gust to 11.7 knots. Water temperature 47.1 degrees F.
Swells 7.2 foot every 10 seconds Chop at 6.8 seconds Wave steepness = average.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: hydrualic trim tab question

thanks much; i only have a hour on the boat so far and i could tell they wernt working right. i would mess with the buttons and once every thing evened out i left them alone.
when i looked at them back on land they were very jerky. this was caused from low oil level, got oil level back and the worked better but sometimes one wouldnt go all the way down or up ect. i'm sure this was caused by air in the system from running low on oil as i was able to bleed the lines at the pump and get air bubbles and after a bit they both work as should going up and down smoothly.
i now understand the consept of operation you described . this is why i wanted to ask before i changed anything when i wasnt sure how they worked.
i'm sure they will work much better now that i have serviced them and you have explaned how they work.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: hydrualic trim tab question

You may also want to keep an eye on that oil level, common places for leaks is at the connections at the pump, at the transom where the lines connect and the cylinders themselves have big O rings inside which can leak over time. Bennetts has great customer service (one of the best in the marine business), they will even send you O rings and instructions free of charge if you have that problem.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: hydrualic trim tab question

thanks bob; i in fact did find the leak today. its leaking on the port side and seems to be coming thru the transom and driping into the bilge.
am heading back to powell tomorrow so will be away from computer for next 3 weeks or so but will post how i make out when i get back