Trim Tabs - Electric vs. Hydraulic ?

[Nauti Natured]

OK ... I have a 31 Contender with a set of old K-Planes on them. Everybody says it is an awesome system but I have a few serious issues with mine, one being the most un-ignorable, THEY DONT WORK and I cant figure out why.

My first inclination was to just yank the whole system and replace with the Lencos since so many reputable boat companies are now using them as their tab of choice. Additionally, they have a great price, ease of installation, and lack of cluttery oil tanks and hoses. I have heard many good things about this system but lately have been a bit swayed by people telling me they just wont hold up on a Contender. I dont get it! Why would so many quality manufacturers use Lenco such as Southport, Luhrs, Mako, Etc.... if they were a bad product?

Other options .... try to figure out my K-Planes and fix them. This seems more difficult than it sounds because I cant even figure out anyone who sells them! Who do I call for parts, info, or advice??? Bennets ... I have heard nothing but good stuff about Bennett but I really hesitate to going back to a hydraulic system.

Additionally, I am limited by size so I would love to find something that would work with the tabs that are currently on the boat.

I am thoroughly confused now

Any insight is VERY much appreciated. Please help me figure out this dilemna.

[Arks and Sparks]

I have lenco's on my scout and have had nothing but problems with them. If its not the actuators then its the switches. There is a guy at the marina that has them and has replaced at least one actuator every season for the past four years. My next move is to replace them with bennets

[capt jeremy oc]

I would check with Latham Marine they are very good with everything hydraulic on a boat. Very good people to deal with.



http://www.lathammarine.com/

[Nauti Natured]

Originally Posted by Arks and Sparks

I have lenco's on my scout and have had nothing but problems with them. If its not the actuators then its the switches. There is a guy at the marina that has them and has replaced at least one actuator every season for the past four years. My next move is to replace them with bennets

Uggh.... Thats not what I wanted to hear. I still dont get it.

[Nauti Natured]

Originally Posted by capt jeremy oc

I would check with Latham Marine they are very good with everything hydraulic on a boat. Very good people to deal with.

http://www.lathammarine.com/

I remember those guys .... they have been around for a long time. I recall going to their trailer at the USPBA races in CT when I was a kid. I know they have been in the racing scene for decades. I remember seeing one of the power boats mangled from an accident in the race and the only thing that remained unscathed was the Latham steering system.

I havent heard their name for a long time. I didnt even know they catered to the offshore fishing scene.

Where do they fall on price?

[MarkP]

Shitcan the Lencos, sell the Bennetts and buy the Volvo QL Trim System. Easy to install, simple to use, almost intuitive and they work beautifully...

MarkP

[Nauti Natured]

Originally Posted by MarkP

Shitcan the Lencos, sell the Bennetts and buy the Volvo QL Trim System. Easy to install, simple to use, almost intuitive and they work beautifully...

MarkP

You guys are killin me.

[LuckyLady]

The Kiekaffer tabs aka K-planes they are made by Mercury Racing division.

The is not much to figure out.

You have the pumps in the console, check if they have fluid and that the caps are tight and that the caps are yellow.

Next hit the switch at the dash, do you here anything run? or move

Are both tabs not working?

Next you have a cylinder that attaches to the plane itself, those sometimes go.If both are not working I would lean towards the switch on the dash itself.

To date I have never had a pump fail and I doubt both went bad at the same time.

If you need part #'s to the actuator assembles let me know. The parts can be order thru any Mercury dealer world wide

Did you ever call Shannon @ Power Marine Outfitters there in Sneads Ferry? I can PM you the phone # again if you need it

If you ever have a problem you can not figure out, shoot me an email or call, call your local dealer or call the factory itself that is what we are here for.

For Lenco you can use them on the smaller boats, but I do not recommend them on the bigger boats, the boats are high performance and the tabs are built for high performance. Not cheap but makes are world of difference

[Nauti Natured]

Thanks Lucky .... I think it may be the actuators (or solenoids?) not sure what they are called. I pulled the covers off the back of the boat and they are corroded horribly. I also bought a new Bennett switch to try. I will pull apart the pumps and see if I can clean those up too.

Sounds like trying to rescue the ol k-planes might be the best bet after all .... well, I guess depending on what the actuators cost

If you do have those parts numbers handy I would much appreciate it.

Thanks

[Tuna Meltdown]

I am another disatisfied Lenco owner. Had them on my 20' SeaCraft and hated them. They would freeze up and I had to replace one of the accuators every other year. The idea of submersing a electric motor in saltwater just never made sense to me. Sooner or later saltwater is going to infiltrate the system and ruin it.

Good luck. I would try to fix what you got and if you can't, keep with hydraulic trim tabs.