Tab Bleedback Problem

[bajturner]

Hi Tabman,
I have a question about correcting a bleedback problem on my starboard tab. I watched the video and cleaned out the valve areas as recommended. There did not seem to be any debris. They actually looked like new, but there could be a crack I didn't notice. The tabs seem to extend and retract at different speeds, and the starboard tab gets pushed back about 1/3 of the way at speed. Attempting to lower it further does nothing while at speed. Deploying while at speed is very slow for the starboard side, and again, it will only extend about 2/3 of the way down. It seems to retract faster than the port side, however.

The fluid level is ok and the actuators do not appear to be leaking. I did have Bennett indicator sensors installed two seasons ago, but I don't know if the problem existed prior to that because the boat was new to me.

Any other ideas or things I should check for? Should I start with replacing the seat (or both seats while I am at it)?

On a related note, is there a proper way to unscrew the solenoids without overly twisting or kinking the wires attached to them? There is not a lot of play in the wires (the port one actually needed to be stretched a bit to allow the full rotation of the solenoid), and I am worries about breaking the conductor of the wire. I tried to pre-twist them when I put the solenoids back in so they untisted and ended up without too many kinks in them once screwed-in.

Thank you!

 

[Tabman]

Yes, let's replace the valve seats, send me a PM with your name and address and I will have them mailed right out to you. As far as unscrewing the solenoids, there is no real trick although I like to unplug the wire harness at the pump as it helps a bit. Some SeaRays are butt spliced there so you may not be able to do that.

As far as them running at different speeds, is the tubing longer to one side than the other? This can affect the speed, but tends to average out when the boat is running.

Tom
Bennett Marine

 

[bajturner]

Thank you Tom, PM sent.

Awesome support and customer service!

 

[Tabman]

Brian,

We will mail them to you right away!

Tom

 

[bajturner]

Brian,

We will mail them to you right away!

Tom

Hi Tom,
I received the new valve seats and replaced them with no trouble. I made sure everything was clean in the valve assembly first. I have been using them for almost a month and performance has improved, but I am not sure what my expectation should be. Above 20-25MPH it is not possible to deploy either tab beyond about 70%. When I use them to help get on plane, one still always gets pushed back more than the other. They are not leaking externally anywhere. The fluid level is ok.

Do these ever need to be bled? Anything else I should look for?

Thank you,
Brian

 

[Tabman]

Brian,

The system is self bleeding, running the Trim Tabs up and down 3 - 4 times will purge any air from the system.

Three things come to mind with the problems you are still having;

1. You may have done this already, but I would clean all the electrical connections, especially both ends of the black ground wire at the pump. Low voltage due to some corroded connections may be causing the pump to not generate proper pressure.
2. Inspect the "rubber" tips of the plungers inside the solenoid valves to make sure they are not cracked.
3. Make sure the Automatic Transmission Fluid in the reservoir is a nice clear red color. If it is at all milky there is water in it and would also give some of the same symptoms.

Tom
Bennett Marine