Bennett Trim Tabs, Installation Experiences?

salar

salar

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Hampshire, UK
harley25refit.blogspot.co.uk
I am about to buy and install Bennett hydraulic trim tabs for a 25 foot semi displacement motor cruiser with a Mercruiser leg. It will be a DIY installation following a long tradition on this boat! Has anyone done this themselves and are there any particular tips worth sharing? It looks deceptively simple compared to some of the other things I have had to do. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
There are a few videos of the Bennett installation on YouTube that might be very useful.. I came across them when trying to decide between the Bennett Hydraulic or Lenco Electric tabs.. Haven't fitted anything yet so will be interested in your experience..
 
When you screw the copper pipes into the rams be careful not to over tighten them and also use a small amount of PTF on the threads, Next step after fitting through transom is to hold the copper pipes with molegrips whilst fitting the unions. This prevents the copper tubes from cracking the plastic joint on the ram, Been there once!
 
Always keep the hydraulic pipes the same length. Even if the pump is going to be fitted on one side coil up the excess pipe. This ensures that both rams move at the same speed when operating both together.

Wipe-out forget the Lenco system. Although the Rams move faster and fitting is slightly easier, you will be replacing Rams when they fail (normally just after the boat is relaunched)
 
wipe_out said:
There are a few videos of the Bennett installation on YouTube that might be very useful.. I came across them when trying to decide between the Bennett Hydraulic or Lenco Electric tabs.. Haven't fitted anything yet so will be interested in your experience..
Click to expand...

I'm now fitting a Bennett M120 kit in place of my old Eltrim tabs, got whole kit inc new tabs for about £400, I didn't bother with indicators although you can have as an option, rams are simple and no underwater electric motors to fail.
 
salar said:
I am about to buy and install Bennett hydraulic trim tabs for a 25 foot semi displacement motor cruiser with a Mercruiser leg. It will be a DIY installation following a long tradition on this boat! Has anyone done this themselves and are there any particular tips worth sharing? It looks deceptively simple compared to some of the other things I have had to do. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

Salar,

As the others noted it's quite easy and they gave you some good tips.

Read the instructions a couple of times and if you ever have any questions please feel free to contact me directly Tabmanhelp@gmail.com

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine
 
aquatom said:
Always keep the hydraulic pipes the same length. Even if the pump is going to be fitted on one side coil up the excess pipe. This ensures that both rams move at the same speed when operating both together.
Click to expand...

Surely if the pump is pushing 10cc of ATF down two pipes, 10cc of ATF will come out the other ends into the rams at the same time regardless of length?
 
Actually Aquatom is on target. Since they are single acting actuators and the small diameter tubing contributes some friction lose it is best to keep the tubing runs close to the same lengths. A slight difference in speed (not reaction time) can be noticed is the tubing is much longer on one side than the other. If it is necessary to mount the pump on one side of the boat you can put a coil in the tubing to keep them closer to even.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine
 
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