73 Trim tab questions

[jitts3]

I purchased a 73 SRV 240. I have a question about the trim tabs.
Now here is why I'm confused. My boat has no engine or drive. I am buying a rebuilt OMC for it. Thats what it had and I am not debating the OMC-Merc thing. My minds made up. Now on the Helm there is a toggle swith like a old joystick. Bow up, down and left right. It appears to me like a trim switch. Now all I'm used to is the way my dads boat was. It had a electric motor move the whole engine up and down for her trim. This boat is solid mounted to the stringers. The trim tabs appear to have no wires to them for them to be mechanicaly actuated. Or do the wires go thru the hull and I havent seen them. They are now even with the hull at angle. So if they were spring loaded, they appear to be worthless. Anybody have any answers on this. This is a pic of the back of the boat. If tomorrow I'll get some close ups to post.
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Steve

 

[KRB64]

First let me state that I have never owned an OMC so all I "know" is in regards to Mercs, which may be totaly different or not, I'm not sure.

Also, the oldest boat we have with trim tabs is a '78 so a '73 may be different there too.

Having said that: The trim tabs I'm familiar with are hydraulic. There's a little electric motor with oil tank, about the size of a milk crate (smaller actually) back in the engine bay. Little tubes run out the transom to the hydraulic cylinders. The motor is contolled by something at the helm, usually a pad with four buttons (up & down for port & starboard). I have an old switch like what you describe, a toggle, that I was going to use but rebuilt the old pad instead.

Now there is also a seperate toggle that has nothing to do with the tabs but does actually lift the Merc. On our '82 SD there's a toggle that's for "trailer mode only", in addition to the normal two buttons. It lifts the lower unit on up further than is safe to run but allows for trailering.

Have I totally confused you now? Better, closer pictures would help.

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

If you look closely at his posted picture he has what looks like a set of Bennett Tabs on the stern of the boat.
The chrome toggle he has is what I think was the original Bennett Tab Control
My suggestion would be to replace it with the current dual rocker arm assembly.
Get a couple of pictures of the toggle, stern tabs and the motor set-up in the bilge and e-mail or call Bennett.
They are the best around for customer service.
Bar none.

http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/

Phone: 954.427.1400
Client Services is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Fax: 954.480.2897

Email: info@BennettTrimTabs.com