Trim Tabs - Electric vs. Hydraulic ?

[gradyfish265]

I have to agree with all that luckylady said, stay away from Lenco's unless they are on smaller boats, and even then they have issues. Here is some info on electric vs hydraulic tabs: http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/trim_tab_comparison.htm

[mobilefamily]

FWIW I have Minn Kota Troll N Trim tabs on my new Panga Marine 261 Tournament. They are awesome! The standard switch has indicator lights, plus "auto up" and "auto down" buttons. Last but not least, they have limit switches that stop the actuator when it reaches its limit so you don't burn it up.

I had Lenco's on my last panga and had to replace one actuator and one "brain module" in 24 months.

[Mirage36]

If you get rid of those K planes, I'll take them off your hands.

Mary's right on the money with her advise.

[Nauti Natured]

Originally Posted by Mirage36

If you get rid of those K planes, I'll take them off your hands.

Mary's right on the money with her advise.

I am going to try and see if I can get them working. I spent a few hours yesterday with a sawsall, hammer, and chisel trying to extract the solenoids from the boat. They are so corroded that the through bolt and the solenoid became one. Those bolts ate up one sawsall blade after another!

So I have yet to find out what the actuator / solenoids cost. Does anyone have a price list or access to one?

What do you say Mary? Do you have access to a Mercury catalogue?

[Buddy H]

Solenoid are cheap buy a few just in case the part #is 89-96158t Mercury.

[LuckyLady]

Originally Posted by Buddy H

Solenoid are cheap buy a few just in case the part #is 89-96158t Mercury.

Awesome Buddy I was going to OBM in a bit and was going to grab the part # Thanks!

[Nauti Natured]

Just so Im getting my wording right.... the solenoid is the part that the hydraulic hoses connect to at the back of the boat that makes the tabs go up and down right? The black, square piece (called an actuator by lenco) ... is this right?

[LuckyLady]

Here are some pictures of 2 different applications

The bull hull is off a 38 Top Gun Cigarette and the Black is a Contender

The cylinder actuator piston ram what ever you want to call it is the black square piece that you see in the pictures that lifts the tabs.

Like I said make sure you have all your zincs in place and they should be checked and changed yearly or according to use.

Hope this helps.

[Nauti Natured]

Yup .... thats the culprit. Thats exactly what I need: the cylinder actuator piston ram solenoid thingy

Is it supposed to be connected to a zinc? Mine were not which might be the reason for the issue to begin with.

[Nauti Natured]

One more question ....


There are three lines coming out of the transom to each tab. Two are for hydraulic fluid and there is a third which I am not sure about. It looks like it may be for the indicator because it has a cable that attaches to the tab which leads me to believe it is for the indicator?

Can anyone confirm?