trim tab pump 93 sailfish 252

[dude23455]

hello all

I recently purchased a 93 sailfish 252.

it has issues that I'm working through, transom is being replaced, I've redone most of the wiring, freshwater tank had a leak, etc

but my question today is about the trim tab pump reservoir. I can hear the pump activate when I press the buttons, but the reservoir is empty and I can see that the fluid has leaked out.
are there some normal spots to check for leaks before I refill it and spill another quart of tranny fluid into my bilge?

thank you from Panama

 

[seasick]

You probably have a leak near on in a cylinder. Assuming the tabs don't move, you will have to add fluid to look for a leak. Note that the leak could be outside and not necessarily in the bilge.

 

[DennisG01]

Yup - put your detective glasses on and look around closely. You very well might find the tell-tale signs of a leak. Look at the nipples where it goes through the transom, too.

 

[dude23455]

the leak is somewhere in the pump module/reservoir. I can see traces of the fluid under the area of the pump.

I was just wondering if a particular part/seal normally fails or if I need to dig into it and find out

 

[seasick]

The major causes of leaks are; leaky trim cylinder shaft seals, leaky fittings, or leaky lines due to wear and tear. Just put in the oil and run the pump. In most cases a leak will not leak or will leak very slowly when the pump is not running. Use any ATF transmission fluid.

 

[dude23455]

The major causes of leaks are; leaky trim cylinder shaft seals, leaky fittings, or leaky lines due to wear and tear. Just put in the oil and run the pump. In most cases a leak will not leak or will leak very slowly when the pump is not running. Use any ATF transmission fluid.

do I need to bleed the lines?

 

[seasick]

If the system is Bennett which it probably is, the answer is no. Assuming the tabs don't move at all, fill the reservoir to about an inch from the top and then try to cycle the tabs. The system is self bleeding internally but it may take several times to get the tabs to move (you should hear the pump working. If not you have other problems.
Keep an eye on the reservoir level and refill as level get low. You don't want the pump to suck air. Work on one tab at a time.
Eventually the air should bleed out. You want to end up with the fluid about an inch below the top when both tabs are fully retracted ( tabs all the way up).
If you grab a tab and try to move it with no pump turned on and it does move up and down, that is a sign that there is air in it. As it bleeds the air is cycled out and eventually you should not be able to move the tab plate up and down by hand.
Good luck