Wake Plate Question

Quick question. I had to replace the upper hinge of one of my actuators on the wake plate about a week ago after it just broke in half. Now the wake plate goes down but stops when it is "level" or when there is no deflection. Bennett trim tabs says those actuators only have an 1 3/8 inch of travel so that is normal and it is going all the way down. I seem to remember it going down further. The pump will stop running when it stops going down but when it goes all the way up the pump will keep running. That doesn't seem to be right either but I really don't remember. Someone with a similar boat please tell me where your plate stops when going down and also what the pump does when the tab goes all the way up and down. Boat is a 2001 Outback DD.

The gauge also quit working but that is another problem.

BTW: Just a plug for Bennett Trim Tabs. They have been great and have a really excellent customer service department.

Can't help with this one but good to hear from you Monty! Glad you're still alive.

Been a while. Just been busy with family and work going virtual. Until recenty haven't done anything with the boat. I pulled it out of the garage and ran it on the hose for a little while a couple weeks ago. While doing that, the actuator blew out. What it's doing may be normal, just can't remember.

Nobody knows about this? I'll take any boat with a wake plate.

Monty i cant say for the wake plate pump stopping on the way down. The trim tab should stop when its level with the hull. It might be they put an off switch on the down motion and not the up motion, IDK.

The hinge was probably broken allowing the plate to move downwards more..

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Plate should travel slightly past level so it creates a hook. My pump stays on as long as I hold the lever up or down and I can hear the sound change when the actuators reach the end of their stroke. They don't have much travel. No switch for up or down, just the coil that drives the gauge. Check you fluid level first. Then try taking the plate loose from the actuators and stroking them.

Sounds like they are normal then. They might be going slighty (and I mean slightly) past the hull. I must be losing what little mind I have left. Just got to get the gauge working again. Bennett said to check the ohms on the sensor wire but my ohm meter is broke, go figure.

Update. Fixed the gauge this afternoon. Turned out to be a wire/ground issue. That to all.

Glad you got it all working.

I have to agree about the great service from Bennett.

Yea, Bennett has been great. They sent me upper and lower seals at no charge and walked me through replacing the lower. Had to call several times to ask questions and they were always friendly and helpful. Wish all companies would provide this kind of service.

I must say I called Moomba to ask a question about one of the actuators at the recommendation of Bennett and I also received very good customer service from them too.

I too have had great success with Bennett's customer service. They've sent me severl replacment parts for free. I had a leak from the upper hinge on one of my actuators. It was leaking from around the connection point between the hinge and the hull. Replaced the hinge and re-assembled. I saw a very minor bit of leakage shortly there after, but the proof will be in this year. I might have a bad hydrulic fitting - but again, they sent me free ones of those too. Now I just have to figure out how to put them on if the time comes...

I saw you at the basin, Monty. Sorry I didn't get a chance to chat. Looked like you were waiting for the trailer and I was waiting for my brother who put my trailer away. Next time.