New actuators install issues

Hi there one of my actuators on the port side has frozen up I bought two new actuators that Moombah said is appropriate for my Mobius 2006. Unfortunately when I place him next to the old actuators they seem to be angled down to the ground more so than the old ones making the plate not angle right (see pics). Has anyone had issues with replacing their actuators? Do I need to soften the top part of the actuators to bend it up a bit to make the appropriate angle to make it fit?Attachment 30344Attachment 30345Attachment 30344Attachment 30345

You could try unscrewing the actuator body, leave the original hinge part attached to your boat and screw on the new body and piston. Give Bennett a call. They have excellent customer service and will send you rebuild kits for no charge. Basically just O-rings.

So are you saying only one end of the actuator has a pivot on it?

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Isn’t the only difference the mounted (old) actuator is just extended a bit in your picture and the new one is fully retracted? At least that is how it looks.

Yeah maybe ask for a rebuild kit I might do that because I asked if I could use the body of the ones that I received from them and they said it’s not compatible with the old mounting bracket

Yes only the side that is attached to the wake plate has a hinge the other Attach the Trentham is fixed

If you look Closely in the picture the new actuator is angled more towards the ground compared to the old one but yes the new actuator is fully retracted and the other actuator is all the way out. I retracted the old actuator that was still working but the new actuator still pushed the plate to far down.

He checked with Skier’s choice and they ensure that that is the correct Ram for my 06 mobius. He stated over the 16 year the plastic could have flexed to the position that it is in now. I just wish there was a picture I can compare what the tabs should look like all the way up and all the way down. If anybody has pics of a new wake plate ram set up please shoot it my way. Thx

To be honest, I am trying to wrap my head around how it's working without the actuator being able to pivot at both ends if the plate is on a continuous hinge with a single point of rotation. That plastic where it mounts to the boat must be flexing.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

OR. Is there a sliding mechanism or slot that is on the end where it mounts to the wake plate?

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

The upper part attached to the transom is the upper hinge. I had 1 leaking and rebuilt both of mine after Bennett sent me the kits. Kit comes with the plastic clip which makes it much easier and safer. There's a pretty stout spring inside the actuator and a lot of ATF.

https://bennetttrimtabs.com/installM...rMar19-WEB.pdf
https://bennetttrimtabs.com/installM...akdown-WEB.pdf
https://bennetttrimtabs.com/installM...O-Ring-WEB.pdf

Exactly. It has to either pivot or slide or it just won't work. The angle of the actuator has to be able to change as it moves. That's why the comment of it being fixed at the transom attach point confuses me. Maybe his bracket is just really tight on that end and he thinks it doesn't move. Take a picture of the top side on the actuator where it mounts to the boat. Bet there is a pin in it.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

No pin. It flexes.

Wow. That's really not a very good design.


Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

I opened the pdf and see what you mean now. Still don't like that design. Constantly flexing plastic will eventually fail. Not to mention it probably allows the wake plate to hange angle slightly under loads.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Hay H yep it definitely fixed on the mounted end and pivots on the plate end. So it probably does flex at the fixed end. I’m going to just throw them on and see what happens, what else can I do u know.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moombius06

Hay H yep it definitely fixed on the mounted end and pivots on the plate end. So it probably does flex at the fixed end. I’m going to just throw them on and see what happens, what else can I do u know.

---

I bet they work fine. I bet the earlier comment where you said the tech told you the old ones had probably deformed over time is correct. The new ones will probably eventually do that too.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Okay I successfully put on the new actuators and it does flex at the mounting point of the back the boat as the plate goes up and down. The issue I have now is that the new actuator on the left still doesnÂ’t move.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moombius06

Okay I successfully put on the new actuators and it does flex at the mounting point of the back the boat as the plate goes up and down. The issue I have now is that the new actuator on the left still doesnÂ’t move.

---

Yes on the flexing. That was my whole point earlier. Something has to move/pivot at that end too for it to work. I'm not crazy about flexing plastic, but hey that is the design. Have you checked for power being sent to that side?

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

I suspect a bad relay.

This is a hydraulic system and both actuators are connected to the same supply line from the pump. Check the fluid reservoir level and add ATF if it is low then cycle the wake plate up and down multiple times to work the air out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VA LSV

This is a hydraulic system and both actuators are connected to the same supply line from the pump. Check the fluid reservoir level and add ATF if it is low then cycle the wake plate up and down multiple times to work the air out.

---

Ahh...what he just said makes since.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk