Mainship 430 trim tabs

[ExSail]

Hello all,

I just found that the trim tabs on our 430 aft cabin are not working. As I was researching this, I found a post that Mainship had determined that trim tabs did nothing ( but this was written about the 350/390 models). Can any 430 aft cabin owners chime in on the effectiveness of the trim tabs before I go to the expense of replacing them ?
Right now the boat just squats over 2200 rpms and I keep about the same speed throttled back to 1800-1900. Yes, I know it’s a trawler and I should be in a hurry, lol, but I was just looking for real owner input on the tabs. Thanks

 

[porman]

My trim tabs are not currently working. Waiting for better weather to fix them. It's snowing right now. When they were working, they definitely helped. They pushed the bow down at anything over about 12 knots or so and the boat would gain speed. Since we generally cruise at 1600 to 1800 rpm I didn't know they weren't working until recently.

 

[porman]

If the problem is in the pump, a Bennett pump will work. Somewhere I have a chart that shows how to wire it correctly.

 

[Keysdisease]

Almost all Bennett Trim Tab problems are electrical in nature, and can often be solved simply and inexpensively in the boat.

This: "I found a post that Mainship had determined that trim tabs did nothing" is classic "someone told me" BS.

1st you need to confirm you have Bennett and not Lenco or Trim Master which Mainship did use for short periods of time.

Then find the pump. With someone operating the control listen for any activity at the pump. There is a motor and 2 solenoids, the motor and 1 or both solenoids operate to move 1 or both tabs. If no sound at all check fuse and ground. Fuse is 20amp, wire suppling power to control, ground is black wire coming off pump. All 3 components do not fail simultaneously. If no sound at all problem is power, control or ground.

The control and the wire connectors can also be the problem. You can diagnose if you pump is working by energizing 1 wire at a time at the pump. This is the color code:

There are 4 wires:

Red Port solenoid
Green Stbd solenoid
Blue Motor fwrd - Tab down
Yellow Motor reverse - Tab up

In order to create an action 2 wires must energize; For example Port Tab down, energize Red and Blue, this runs motor forward and opens the port solenoid.

Bennett has an excellent troubleshooting guide in the installation manual

https://bennetttrimtabs.com/installManuals/Classic-Trim-Tab-Owner-Manual-WEB.pdf

This is what the pump looks like, uses any brand ATF

 

[porman]

Sorry, I should have mentioned I have Trim Master tabs. The chart I have shows how to wire a Bennett pump to a Trim Master system.