Hydraulic Wake Plate Question

[mjr119]

Where do you add fluid to the wake plate system? ATF dexron 3?

[mjr119]

My plate only goes half way down, I think it is low on fluid.

[mmandley]

Normally its in the engine compartment, on my 08 LSV it was upper Right side of the compartment if looking at the engine from inside the boat.

[trayson]

There's mine at the top of the picture (and yes, mine is low and needs to be topped off). It takes basically ANY ATF fluid, and you can mix ATF fluid types. Just use whatever you have laying around the garage.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_3GyPr6CoB4/VSXl_Ut9SAI/AAAAAAAAYlo/iiprvEscQko/s800/20150408_193627.jpg

[mjr119]

Awesome mine is low as well. Hopefully this is what is stopping the plate from going all the way down.

Another note, my plastic cover over the wakeplate electronics is cracked, will that affect function at all?

[brain_rinse]

Make sure you are checking your fluid with the wake plate all the way up. I don't think a crack in the outer cover will mater as long as it's keeping water away.

[mjr119]

Thanks I have some ATF at home, I will try to add some this evening and see what happens.

[VA LSV]

Also check for leaks at the actuators. Bennett has excellent customer support if you need seals or want to replace your cover.

http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/

[mjr119]

I added some fluid yesterday, until it was at the middle of the range. The plate still only goes to 50% down. What else could be causing this? I will finish topping it off today and retry, but I think it is something else. Are the actuators the black rams that control the plate?

[brain_rinse]

Yes, those are the actuators. Have you checked for leaks? If the fluid is/was low something is up.

[mjr119]

I filled it up and tried to move it all of the way down. When it gets to half way I heard a spraying sound from the engine compartment. I couldn't see what it was because I was alone. Would it be leaking from the lines going from the reservoir? I didn't see any signs of fluid.

[wolfeman131]

Can you post a pic of the plate from the side in the down position?

[VA LSV]

If those lines are leaking you should see ATF in the bilge. The pump makes a different sound when the actuators hit the end of their stroke. Does your gauge indicate full up and full down or only show half way?

[mjr119]

The gauge only shows half way down. I guess that could be the issue. I will post a pic asap.

[mjr119]

22047

that's as far as it will go down.

[mmandley]

22047

that's as far as it will go down.

Thats all the way down. It only goes Level with the bottom of the boat. All the way up is about 2 inches

[mjr119]

Cool. Is the gauge adjustable?

[mmandley]

IDK to be honest.

[VA LSV]

Gauge is driven by a sensing rod moving through a coil in the starboard actuator. Should be a green wire running from the actuator to the gauge. Actuators have a very stiff spring inside that aids with extending. Try removing the plate from the actuators to see if you get more stroke.
Bennett has great customer service.
http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/contact/

[mjr119]

I think everything is good. I've done some research and it seems that the older Bennett systems on these boats only uses half of the gauge.

[mjr119]

I just wanted to add that it says right in the manual that the bennett trim tab will only use 50% of the gauge on this boat. So it was functioning correctly the entire time.

[parrothd]

What year is this boat? If it's pre 06 the gauge only goes to 50%.. That's full, poorly designed..

They used a stock gauge with modified wakeplate so when the the plate is fully down the gauge shows 50%..

[mjr119]

You are correct, it is a 2003.

I did not know this at first, so I thought the system was not functioning properly.

[VA LSV]

Mine is a 2005 and the gauge shows full up and full down.

[mjr119]

Okay maybe it is pre 2005. Either way, the manual for the 2003 says that it will only use half of the gauge.

[VA LSV]

Manual for 2003 does indeed say the gauge will only read 0 to 50 deg and it shows a much different gauge. Looks like the change took place in '04. Glad to hear all is working correctly.