Trim pumps or drive indicators
 

When I trim up 3-4 clicks on the drives my indicators show different readings. One is at 3 the other is at 4. If I repeat this process while not moving they both read the same. A friend indicated this maybe caused by one trim pump being weaker or going bad. They did not do that before and we now have 65 hours on them.

Any help would be appreciated.
Rick

Wish I could help. Sounds like your boat is new. If one is going bad I have read several threads, and one just the other day, about trim tabs and pumps having problems.

Do a search for your subject and you will find the manufacturer's phone # and name of a guy to talk to. Typically, if its under warranty, he will send you new pumps, lines, or whatever you need and with free shipping too.:D

It can also be in the trim rams. They can get a little corroded at the scraper inside. Just a thought.

Jon

Thanks for the response.
Yes it is new this year.

I don't think anything is corroded yet, fresh water and drystacked when not in use.

I was wondering if others have seen this with their twin setups and is this common.

Rick

Yes, this is common. The tab indicator cables are driven by a spring loaded cable terminating in a sleeve on the drive. This is all clamped to the drive ram. The "ram" attached to the cable has no connection to the drive but follows it by spring tension only. sometimes the cable ram sticks and does not follow the drive all the way. Just because the indicator says the tabs don't match does NOT mean they are not at the same position as the other, so do not assume you have a trim/tab pump bad. No two pumps will operate at the same speed or volume.
There is a company that makes one (indicator ram cable assm)with a mechanical attachment to the Merc drive ram shaft and WILL indicate true trim position repeatedly. It has been seen on an Eliminator boat here & installed by Eliminator.....call them for the name of the manufacturer or email me and I will get the name & tel# for you off the unit . The warranty should cover you this time, but it will happen again next season....so just fix it right now. It is not expensive & you CAN do it yourself in an hour or so.
[email protected]

Thanks Blown Formula,
When running the drives up/down on the rack in drystack they always seem to match. Even when I am sitting in the water not moving they match. However, while running is when I expierence this problem. I will check what you suggested with the indicator cable. I will run it, trim up a little until it reads off at the indicators then pull the boat without moving the drives and see if I can see the stuck cable at the ram. If the end of cable is tight against the ram I will check the drives to see if they really are at different settings. If so, it must be a pump. If not, I will get that new cable indicator system used on Eliminators.

Is it common for the pumps to pump at different rates so the drives are out of sync?

Rick

Yes, it is normal.....the difference may be small, but the pumps nor drive motors are calibrated to any standard......also outside forces can affect trim speed...viscosity of the oil, difference in oil temp, water pressure on the drives, etc. There should not however be a major variation.

Do you think 1 click on the indicator is within the acceptable variation? One drive reads 3 the other reads 4.

Rick

Yes, I would. I have new cables and everythin was inspected as being correct...... still have as much as 1 variation.......
The problem is the plastic (?) rods that are to follow the drive are actually driven by a spring and corrosion, grease or any other crud can stop it from extending with the drive. With the new cable assembly, there is a mechanical attatchment and springs are not used!!:cool:

Ok her is the good stuff**

Trim Cable Activators
p/n C60120033
$150.64 ea. ( 2 req for twins)

Blue Water Performance
760-721-1951


We can get a 20% discount if we order 10 or more.

Anybody interested??? I will make a post regarding these if interest exists.

Thanks Blown Formula,
I will check this out this weekend.

Rick

Rick,

I have the same problem and my boat is 11 years old. The three drives will be close if there is no resistance (Rack or Sitting in the water), but they will be off a little depending upon the load.
3 pumps, 6 hydraulic cylinders and 11 years - I don't expect them to be perfect. They are usually within 1/2 to 1 mark on my indicator. Under power I trim and then use the individual switches to fine tune.

Your situation is a little bit different - the boat is pristine and everything is essentially brand new.
I would double check all of the electrical connections first. Both at the pump and at the dash. In a new boat something may have come a little bit loose and it requires more amperage to move the drives under load. The slow pump might not be getting enough juice. An easy way to test would be to hook up a voltmeter to each pump and run the leads to the cockpit. Have Wendy read you the stabalized voltage when the boat is moving and you hit the switch. If they are different then you have found your problem! I will be out of town this weekend but I would be happy to help next week or weekend.
If the supply voltages match then you may have a bad pump and pursue it as a warranty. Make sure they hold onto the old pump(s) until you are satisfied. The new pump may be a little off from the pumps made last year and you may wish you could put the old one back in.
You can also play with oil weights until everything matches. Lighter weight oil flows faster. But then they will move at different speeds when you are at idle.

Give me a call if you have any questions. We had a good time at the poker run.

Steve

RV, your pm box is full, must delete otuging messages to get space again.

anyway here was my message:

RV, if you end up buying new indicators, i am interested in what you take off for the drives. I have those stupid merc guages that literally don't work. and my pumps run at different speeds. have to go by feel and count one..one thousand.... ect. real pain. my treasure would be your junk in this case;)

let me know

thanks
Rob Hamelink
Rambunctious

Rob,
Thanks for the heads up on the PM box. Not sure what I will be doing yet but if I go with different indicator setup I will keep your request in mind.

Rick