Hi All,
On my test drive of my new 1999 272 I noticed that the trim indicators were reading very odd. The port side was fully light, and the starboard side had only one "bar" light, upon playing with them they appeared to not be working. After the sea trial we pulled the boat out and heard the tab motors running but no movement. The tabs are dual ram with 4 actuators all together. I had a mechanic look at them and he told me the wire that goes into the starboard side actuator, (closest to the out drive) was lose and could not be fixed, he said he would have to order a new one. He also said that the actuators were both hydraulic and electric, and that the one that was busted controlled all four. Does anyone know if this guys a quack, or on to something? Also, if anyone knows what brand Baja put on these boats I'd like to start my hunt for a replacement. Thanks everyone.

What brand are the tabs? Need to determine if they are bennet's or boat leveler.

I'm guessing this is the insta trim setup...

Didn't do too much poking around them yet, they have been bottom painted over, however the actuators are screwed into the hull with 4 screws in each(square). two black hoses or wires protrude from the top of each and go through the transom under a stainless steel cap. I'm not sure if that's a good enough description, but i believe bennet has only three holes. (triangular).

Sounds like Insta Trim to me. It is hoses you might want to make sure it's the cylinders and not the pump before you remove everything. The pump should be a red box on your transom.

Yes,

bennet are 3 holes, Sorry, Cant help.

After looking around and reading your responses, I would agree I have an Insta Trim system. Being new to trim tabs, what is a good way to do a test of the pump vs the cylinders? when i hit the switch i hear the pump running but no movement. The mechanic said it was electrical, inside the cylinder, however I believe all of these systems were hyd. seems odd to me, unless he was trying to rip me off into buying some elaborate part that only he knew of. Thanks for your help everyone, I cant wait to get this resolved and get out for a good run.

You have InstaTrim/Boat Leveler. Chances are the problem is in the pump box. The 2 rams/actuators per side are tee together at the pump. So if there is a problem anywhere on either P or S side, neither of those 2 rams will work resulting in that particular tab not working. It's not a condition where 1 ram will cover the other. All or nothing. The 4 rams use hyd pressure to extend, but use an internal spring to retract, once the solenoid in the pump opens to let the fluid back in. There are 2 solenoids inside the pump, starboard and port. The pump motor runs when either one, or both of the tabs are switched on. Only variable is which one, or both, of the solenoids are energized. The rams are hyd only. The wire he is seeing will only come from 1 ram per tab. That wire is for the tab indicator on your dash. Boats w/o the dash indicator won't have any wires. The tab dash locator and tab operations are 2 totally separate systems that have nothing in common between them. You should be able to push down on the tabs by hand and see if your dash gauge reads. If you can push the tabs down and no gauge change, you have a problem either with a bad wire into the ram indicator mount, or the gauge is bad. If all else, you canreplace your tab indicator setup with the new complete updated indicator system. They are only $230 or so on ebay all over for the whole thing. Cheaper to buy the whole kit vs individual parts to fix yours. If yours is the old stlye sytstem, I don't think it is repairable. Mine is a '95 and I had to buy a new kit this winter for that reason.

Get the tabs working 1st, then the indicator can be diagnosed.
Put your hand on each side of the pump housing and have someone hit a tab switch and see if you can feel the solenoids energizing.

Awesome info. Thanks so much. ill be at the boat today and let you all know how i make out. Thanks everyone!

Check the reservoir and makke sure there is fluid in there, I have the same setup on my 272 and it had a small leak, motor would run, no tab movement. Quick and easy check!