Rebuilding Engine Hatch Accuators??
 

new to the site, and all help is appreciated. Im curious if rebuilding an engine hatch acctuator is possible? the ram cant possibly "go out" on these things, so can you just change out the motors? if so, does anyone know where to get them? ive been searching online and no luck so far. i really dont want to spend $250 or more on a new assembly if someone knows of a shortcut to save some bucks! thanks guys!

I would like to know the same thing. Everythings is in great shape on mine, but two gears have stripped. Would like to buy just the motor- or gears for that matter.

Whatever you do, just make sure it will not go out with the hatch down! :eek:

My guess is that the easiest route will be to replace the whole unit.

Mine just died stuck open. We are going to replace the whole hatch ram with a long hydraulic ram driven by a trim pump. That ought to hoise my big heavy hatch quiet well.

Good post, I wonder this as well. My hatch now needs my help to assist it up, those stupid things are always getting weak.

I had a problem with my lift on my Formula a number of years ago, got the mfg. info off the side of the unit & called them. I was able to send it back for repair for around $100 and its been fine since.

I think there are only a couple of mfg. out there for these lifts. Do you have that info? Mine units painted over so I can't see that info... would be great to just order the gears I need.

ill be doing a search for the mfg info now. 100 bucks is much better than the 325 quotes ive been getting!

"JJJ" do u remeber who your mfg was on your accuator?

I think that one thing that is important about these hatch actuators that is often overlooked is the size of the wiring comming back from the dash switch to the actuator. It should be a minimum of 12 if not 10 gauge but mine (29 Fountain) is like 16 gauge.

We offer the electric motor for the Hardin Marine actuators for $85, but not sure how universal these motors are. Who makes the unit you are trying to repair?

CP,

Does the motor come as the complete motor, gear box, housing... or just the motor?

Found the Mfgr. of my hatch lift that's in my 2000 Formula & they did the repairs needed (5-6 yrs ago):

Motion Systems
600 Industrial Way West
Eatontown, NJ 07724
732-222-1800

Hope this helps & they are still around !!

John

I want to say that mine is made by "tomlinson", but i could be wrong. Is this one that you guys deal with or that could be repaired with the actuator you currently have?

Yeah, electrical starvation burns up the motors on these puppies.

Best bet is to buy a relay kit and use the small wiring from the dash to turn the relays on and off, and run #6 wire directly from the batteries to the relays, and to the hatch motor. If you ever put a voltmeter at the motor while it is going up, you will see what kind of voltage starvation it has to put up with when it runs off the dash wiring. This keeps the motors running for a long time.

Also make sure you keep the acme screw threads greased in the ram. They drag badly when not lubed.

I did a custom installation for a guy and we used gas struts to counterbalance the weight. That way, instead of the ram pushing up 200 pounds, it only had to push up about 80. And it actually had to pull the hatch back down about halfway. The ram motor hardly sounded loaded. Those gas struts are available for $40 apiece up to 300 pounds of force.

ive got mine wired up with the relay already, just still looking around for a new motor for it. used some left over 8gauge wire from my amp install, so it should work pretty quickly once replaced. im almost ready to just break down and buy the whole assembly. my hatch is getting recovered this week, and i need to have the new lift readt to go by the time its done.

If you buy a whole new unit, it would be interesting for you to wire it the old way, then try it with the 8ga wire to see how much better it works.

I would try it if i didnt have it wired already, but i have read enough on OSO that im sure it will be night and day compaired to the stock wiring.