Hatch lift issue
10-24-2016 | 09:10 AM
#1
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
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From: North Miami, FL
Hatch lift issue
So something I have feared finally happened this weekend. I have two actuators in my Tantrum that lift the hatch up and down, I believe they are from Hardin Marine. Anyways, despite my spraying with salt inhibitors the connectors got some corrosion on them and weren't making a good connection this weekend. The result, one ram would raise and the other would not. The result, I could not get into my engine compartment.
I was able to raise one side a few inches, luckily I'm an abnormally thin guy right now and was able to squeeze in over the motor and disconnect the non functioning ram and raise the hatch. This was not safe and not practical.
Right now if a failure occurs I cannot get in. The hatch hinges are mounted on the inside, The sun pad is only accessible from under the hatch, you cannot gain access from the backseat, and you cannot pick the hatch up so there is literally no way to get in unless you cut a hole in the top.
My rams work fine and I've replaced the wiring and learned that lesson the hard way but my question is has anyone came up with a manual override, in case the motors decided to stop working or if a switch fails?
I'm thinking of setting up some sort of pin and cable setup routed to the side vents where I can pull the hatch pins manually and lift the hatch if necessary.
Any ideas or opinions would be great . Thanks!
I was able to raise one side a few inches, luckily I'm an abnormally thin guy right now and was able to squeeze in over the motor and disconnect the non functioning ram and raise the hatch. This was not safe and not practical.
Right now if a failure occurs I cannot get in. The hatch hinges are mounted on the inside, The sun pad is only accessible from under the hatch, you cannot gain access from the backseat, and you cannot pick the hatch up so there is literally no way to get in unless you cut a hole in the top.
My rams work fine and I've replaced the wiring and learned that lesson the hard way but my question is has anyone came up with a manual override, in case the motors decided to stop working or if a switch fails?
I'm thinking of setting up some sort of pin and cable setup routed to the side vents where I can pull the hatch pins manually and lift the hatch if necessary.
Any ideas or opinions would be great . Thanks!
10-24-2016 | 05:55 PM
#3
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 10
From: Pompano Beach, Florida
We used Uflex rams when it was built. You could lift it up manually. Swap them out for new ones and you will be ok.
So something I have feared finally happened this weekend. I have two actuators in my Tantrum that lift the hatch up and down, I believe they are from Hardin Marine. Anyways, despite my spraying with salt inhibitors the connectors got some corrosion on them and weren't making a good connection this weekend. The result, one ram would raise and the other would not. The result, I could not get into my engine compartment.
I was able to raise one side a few inches, luckily I'm an abnormally thin guy right now and was able to squeeze in over the motor and disconnect the non functioning ram and raise the hatch. This was not safe and not practical.
Right now if a failure occurs I cannot get in. The hatch hinges are mounted on the inside, The sun pad is only accessible from under the hatch, you cannot gain access from the backseat, and you cannot pick the hatch up so there is literally no way to get in unless you cut a hole in the top.
My rams work fine and I've replaced the wiring and learned that lesson the hard way but my question is has anyone came up with a manual override, in case the motors decided to stop working or if a switch fails?
I'm thinking of setting up some sort of pin and cable setup routed to the side vents where I can pull the hatch pins manually and lift the hatch if necessary.
Any ideas or opinions would be great . Thanks!
I was able to raise one side a few inches, luckily I'm an abnormally thin guy right now and was able to squeeze in over the motor and disconnect the non functioning ram and raise the hatch. This was not safe and not practical.
Right now if a failure occurs I cannot get in. The hatch hinges are mounted on the inside, The sun pad is only accessible from under the hatch, you cannot gain access from the backseat, and you cannot pick the hatch up so there is literally no way to get in unless you cut a hole in the top.
My rams work fine and I've replaced the wiring and learned that lesson the hard way but my question is has anyone came up with a manual override, in case the motors decided to stop working or if a switch fails?
I'm thinking of setting up some sort of pin and cable setup routed to the side vents where I can pull the hatch pins manually and lift the hatch if necessary.
Any ideas or opinions would be great . Thanks!
10-24-2016 | 10:45 PM
#4
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Mine has a flip up arm that allows you to lift the hatch about 6 inches and it locks in place. You can then reach the pins to release the hatch from the ram and lift the hatch manually. I will take some pictures next time I am out, but probably won't be for a few weeks.
