Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

My trim tabs aren't working. The pump goes on but
nothing happens. I can manually move one of the hydraulics down by
pushing and holding it on the starboard side. It will go down about 1/2 inch. (I don't think it should do that.) As soon as I realise it, it will go back to its original position.
But for the port side it won't move at all. (like I think it should.) the whole system is by "Boat leveler Co" who no longer exists. (you can still buy the parts. Replacement new hydraulics cost $120 each and there are two if them and the "motor" (red and white thing) costs $250. The fluid level inside the motor is about half to a quarter full. If that would effect anything. I have not touched the fluid ever since I bought it.

Thanks.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...de7056aaf9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f6ca310f58.jpg

Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Have the same system in my 95 Z-235 (Purchased it new in Greenwood Lake, N.Y.)) and experienced the same problem last year. All those years and never added a drop of fluid. No indications of a leak.
It turned out to be low fluid level. Filled the reservoir to a shade over the full mark and the tabs are back working as they should. Hope this helps and that your problem is the same.

Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Thanks. Let's hope that's true. My lazy mechanic said that the trim tabs are "not worth fixing."

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

But what about how I can move one of the hydraulics down with my hand? Is that normal? Did u have the same issue?

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

If the fluid is gone, the air that replaced it will compress. Try adding fluid.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

It isn't. there is about a quarter of fluid left.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

You're seeing fluid in the reservoir, but it may be out of the actuators. I would try to add more fluid.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Ok. Ill do that. I'll let you know.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I could push both tabs down by hand and as yours did they would both spring back up when I took the pressure off. When mine started acting up last year it was definitely a lack of fluid. Also like yours the fluid levels somewhere in the half full range when they stopped working.

As far as the "trim tabs not worth fixing" Obviously your mechanic has never been out on the water with some "not quite light" friends who will move around while underway. A little more tab on this side, we're level again and nobody"s feelings are hurt.

Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Filled it with fluid, still has the same symptoms and doesn't work. https://youtu.be/-eS88p0G53c

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Sorry it wasn't as simple as low fluid level.

Insta Trim (Insta-Trim.com) manufactures the system for Boat Leveler Co. now. You can buy directly but the prices seam a little higher than popular boat part suppliers.

Viewed and listened to the video you posted on you tube.

Is your battery in good condition and fully charged ? Low voltage can cause the motor to run but the valves may not open.
After you ran the pump through several cycles did the fluid level in the reservoir change ?

Google search "insta trim boat leveler trim tab troubleshooting" on the first page is a post "Trim tab issues - The Hull Truth"
contained in there is a wire chart by color and function. There are also several tests listed that will get you to the root of your problem.
Hope this helps.

Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Yes I just replaced both of the batteries with 2 deep cycle marine batteries 2 weeks ago.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Also while I ran it through several cycles the fluid level didn't change. It might have a little bit, but I couldn't tell. Thanks.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Here is he wiring for Boat Leveler (as we last checked).

green=Port Valve
white= Starboard Valve
red=Motor Forward (pump pressure)
yellow= Motor Reverse (pump retract)
black on HPU=Ground
red on Helm=Control Positive

If I am correct on the wiring then here is how you can test it.


Remove the wires from the helm control and touch together as follows:

Operation=Reaction
(+), Red, Green=Port trim tab down
(+), Red, White=Starboard trim tab down
(+), Red, Green, White=both trim tabs down
(+), Yellow, Green=Port trim tab up
(+), Yellow, White=Starboard trim tab up
(+), Yellow, White, Green=both trim tabs up

If the trim tabs function correctly for each wire grouping then the switch is at fault. Also note that any loose or missing screws on the back of the switch (whether a wire is connected there or not) can cause the pump to malfunction.

This test may also be done right at the pump by using a hot lead. There is usually a connector to the wire harness within a foot or so of the pump. You want to check this connection for corrosion. You may wish to cut the connector off on the pump side and try the test on bare wires.

If you test right at the pump and still no go, then the pump is at fault.

If you suspect corrosion on the wire connector near the pump, cut it out, test as above and reconnect using butt splices.

Here is a link to the Insta Trim / Boat Leveler website, Home - Insta-Trim Boat Levelers I could not find a troubleshooting guide there but confirmed the wiring colors so the troubleshooting should be good. It is worth going over this before turning it over to a mechanic since it is likely an easy problem to isolate and fix.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Ok thanks. So the port hydraulic works going down now (on the switch) but it won't come up. with just the bare wires. I bypassed the switch using the system you told me. Is the hydraulic bad? Or a wiring issue buried somewhere

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Need to bleed the air out. It should be a self bleeding system like the trim. Run then up and down like 5 times to bleed out the air

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I did that.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I think I would hold the switch for a while, or have someone hold the switch, while you exercise the tabs. You may need to do this to bleed the air out of the system. I just hard to believe that both actuators would go bad at the same time, and it sounds like the pump is building pressure.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

But that still does not solve the problem of the pump not responding when I touch the 2 wires together. It won't do anything when I simulate "bow up"

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I'd tackle on thing at a time. Get the pump working again, and then work on the switch.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

The pump works, fine but I'm trying to figure out if the hydraulic is bad or if it's just a bad connection.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

If the pump is working fine, then you should see movement on at least one of your tabs. If the fluid isn't leaking out, it has to be going somewhere when you build up pressure. Air compresses, fluid doesn't. I'm betting you have to bleed the air out of the system.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Counter Intuitively the system requires more power to bring the Tabs up than it does to put them down. I would suggest you check and clean all the electrical connections. Pay particular attention to both ends of the ground wire.

Tom
Bennett Marine

Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I do see movement in one of my tabs.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Full movement, or just a little bit?


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Full movement. Only works going down though. The wiring is fine. I just checked it.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I think that I need to replace both hydraulics. Anyone else agree?

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

I don't agree, but I'm not there troubleshooting the issue. By "hydraulics" I assume you are talking about the actuators? Or are you referring to the entire system? Why would the actuators cause the switch to not work in one direction? There is no electrical power to the actuators.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Yes I mean the actuators.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Also if I touch the wires together manually it does nothing.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

So why does that lead you to replacing the actuators? It sounds electrical to me. Are you getting power to the switch? Is power coming out of the switch? Is power getting to the pump? Etc...


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Yes Iam getting power to both.

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

From both sides of both switches?


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

Yeah. The switch gets power

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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

But does power come out of both sides of the switch. You have power that comes in, and then when you activate the switch, power should come out at one end, or the other, and go to one side of the pump, or the other. Getting power to the switch is half the battle.


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Re: Trim tabs make sound but do nothing.
 

After talking to customer service on the phone that I thought would be extremely unhelpful, diagnosted my problem and got me the parts. Turns out I had 2 bad solenoids and a bad switch. They now work perfectly.

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