Trim tabs won't lower or raise

[Cassiola]

I just dropped my boat in the water and noticed that the trim tabs don't function this season.  I have the Lenco electric tabs (on my 2005 F/V 270).  The light indicators show that they are lowering or raising, and I can hear the motors working, but the piston/actuator doesn't actually lower and the tabs stay level with the boat.
And, its on both sides!

Anyone have any ideas what this could be?  Did the pistons cease somehow during the winter?

I've tried pushing down on them while someone else was using the control to lower the tabs, but they didn't budge...

Thanks

[Black_Diamond]

electric tabs have a ball screw (or acme thread screw) in them, usually with overload clutches and a holding brake.  Also use a gear reduction from the motor to drive the screw.  if you stripped off the gears or otherwise sheared off a drive point, you'll hear the motor run and nothing happens.  Typically you would have a hard time moving them manually.  My guess is you either got water in them and it froze or they broke separate and you are just now noticing.

[02-310]

I had a problem with one of mine last year.  However it was only one of them, and the motor didn't run at all.  Do you know if the tabs were all the way up when you put the boat on the trailer last season?  I'm thinking that if they were down, and when you put the boat on the trailer do the bunks on your trailer line up with the tabs.  IF they do, and you got the boat on the trailer far enough that the tabs were resting on the bunks...  You get where I'm going, but too many if's that could be answered if I saw your boat on the trailer.

Anyways, the problem with mine last year was the actuator was gone.  Same as you, it worked the year before, and when I put the boat in the water and tooked it for it's first run the tab didn't work.  I just replaced it and all works fine now.

[Cassiola]

Thanks for the info.
It sounds like water may have been in there and then froze...

As for the trailer theory, sorry I don't know the answers. I dropped off my boat at the marina and they did all the winterizing for me, including taking it out of the water on their trailer.  I wasn't there while they did all that.

Time to make some calls...

[frodo13056]

Hey Cassiola - in case you don't know, the LENCO tabs have a 3 year "limited" warranty:
 
http://lencomarine.com/universal/3yearwarranty.html

Here's the wiring diagram for your tabs:

http://lencomarine.com/switches_pgs/wir ... itchw.html

Since you have an 05 boat, you should give the Lenco service people a call - the phone number is on the web page.
I had the brain box go dead for the starboard side tab on my 2003 270. Cheapest place I found the replacment box was at BoatersWorld for $239 with the LED switch and free shipping. I replaced the brain box but didn't replace the LED switch so I have a brand new one as a spare for my 320.
Here's the boatersworld link for the brain box and LED Switch:

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/356975615.htm

If your LED switch is good, then you can just buy the brain box for $189 and free shipping:

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/356980011.htm

Or if you need to replace the actuators, the 270 uses the Lenco part number 101 actuators for $129 each:

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/356978890.htm

Good luck!

Steve

[j joy j]

We just had this happen to us.  We took the one that wasn't working apart after taking a quick look at the above links from frodo.

There was a crack in the seal around one of the motors.  Tried to clean up the motor and work it loose.  After we thought that it wasn't going to move, it gave.  We worked it around a little and sealed the crack.  Works like a charm now.

Good luck!

[wastewater willie]

I had one of my Lenco actuators freeze and separate this past winter, and I found that if you go to Boaters World wevsite and order the parts online, even with the shipping, it is cheaper than purchasing the actuator at a Boaters World store.
Wastewater Willie