Bennett Trim Tab Problems

[simmy]

Having found this forum to be immensly helpful with some of the teething problems I have had with my new boat - I thought i'd share an easy solution with anyone who has trim tab issues (Bennett). Firstly I followed the guide located at this link:

http://bennetttrimtabs.com/pdf/trobIcon/trimtab_troubleshooting.pdf

My issue was that one tab worked while the other didn't. On swapping the hydraulic lines around the problem reversed which pointed solely at the HPU box. Stuck for an answer I called these guys:

Marine Components International Ltd's Contact Information
21 Ventura Place
Upton Industrial Estate
Poole
Dorset
BH16 5SW
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0) 1202 624244
Fax: +44 (0) 1202 624255

And the chap on the other end of the phone instantly diagnosed a dodgy solenoid and quoted the part number!

Fantastic.........

 

[omega2]

swapping the hydraulics round only shows you the rams are OK, take a look at the wiring harness, we found a chafed wire was our problem, looking at the schematic have you tried pulling the plug apart and checking the pins??

 

[simmy]

Omega - Thanks for the pointer - good advise; however I did actually test both ends of the plug with a meter as I did eventually with the switch and all the wiring, being initially convinced that the problem was electrical. I will find out tomorrow as I now have the new solenoid to fit!

 

[Morpheous]

You have no doubt been through all this, I had a problem with one of mine on our first proper trrip out after going back in this year. Symptoms as you describe, one working one not. We went over to Watchet from Cardiff in a cross wind and couldn't level out which felt slightly wierd.

This particular passage had started in terrential rain and my dashboard had got quite wet, I suspected then that may be switches were wet. Anyway got the old multimeter out and started checking all the connections and that power was at all the connectors etc. All seemed well, switches working correctly too - it was while testing theswitches up and down lots of times that it just came back to life! I put it down to the fact that it had just got stuck, or maybe banged while being lifted in and out. So I know this is probably not much help but if your electrical connections are all sound just try going up and down on it a few times! I think when were on our passage I only tried to put it down, the indicator said it was fully up so I probably didn't bother testing to see if would go up any further.

 

[simmy]

Thanks Mischief,

Just popped over there, unscrewed the old Solenoid, Screwed in the new one and Bingo! All fine now!

Your issue could have been the same, although it didn't work on mine, years ago I had an Escort Mk2 which had a dodgy solenoid! Often, to start it I had to tap the solenoid with a hammer!!! Sometimes they just get stuck!

 

[Morpheous]

I had a Renault 9 that did the same thing many years ago!

Glad you're all sorted. I was going though my paper work the other day and came across the original Bennet paper work from when the boat was supplied. Looks like something from the 1950's!