Taps actuator repair

[hilljroberts]

My taps actuator (2004 22v) is stuck at 1. It doesn’t reset to 7 after motor being off for 5 minutes. Intermittently, everything will work like normal. It’s like rolling the dice when I start the boat. The taps appears electric to me, not hydraulic. Any info on how to test if it’s the switch or the actuator? Any part information?


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[chpthril]

It doesn’t reset to 7 after motor being off for 5 minutes.

Is this feature that you know has stopped working since owning the boat? I say this, because I think there is a work-around to disable this, and many owners of that generation boat, took advantage of this, as they did not like having to reset the TAPS once back underway.

The work-around was electrical and generated by the TAPS module, not a mechanical function of the actuator, IIRC.

[hilljroberts]

Ah sorry... it not resetting is just another symptom. The bottom line is the gauge is beyond 1 (almost like it’s pinned), and is not responding to the button on the throttle controller. It is also not resetting now.

it has worked for years, it started going out intermittently this season. I figured it was the actuator but I’m wondering if it’s the taps controller (I figured it was just an electric switch with a gauge measuring resistance like everything else). I assume the controller the unidentified black box under my dash that is NOT my perfect pass module. I know the gauge itself is fine it works anytime I start my boat and the taps randomly ends up working. Any clue how to test the controller?


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[isaac]

I am the original owner of a 2003 22v, and my taps system failed June 2019. Mine was the actuator....

There are only two wires to the actuator itself and you can connect them to a battery to move it. Connecting wires one way moves the actuator one way, reversing the leads reverses the actuator. The design is such that you need not worry about overrunning the limits, as the actuator itself has preset limits and cannot be damaged by overrun. I cut the wires to the actuator back by the transom and was able to test power going to the actuator with a volt meter to validate power was available and the problem was with the actuator.

The actuator is made by Lenco, and is not a stock Lenco unit, but Lenco will make one to order. That’s what I did. The Lenco actuator part number is 20740-002, and I ordered one through West Marine.

While waiting for the new actuator, I disassembled my old one. Water had gotten into it and the innards were “crudded up”. But the motor drew current so I figured it might work. I cleaned it all up, regressed the gears, reassembled, and tried it out on the bench. It worked! It’s sitting on a shelf in my garage as an emergency spare.

[isaac]

Here is what some of the insides of the actuator looked like, before I cleaned it up. The motor is in the background.

[hilljroberts]

Thanks isaac, what were your symptoms, similar to mine? Or just the actuator completely stopped responding?

I’m pulling my boat this weekend so I can at least test the actuator with the method you describe.


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[isaac]

My TAPS would sometimes work and sometimes not. It got fairly loud when it would work, and finally got to the point of not moving. Happened over the course of a few weeks. My TAPS gauge would move even if the plate didn’t.

I said I cut the wires at the transom.....I can’t recall if that’s what I did when removing the actuator, or if I was able to test it w/o cutting wires by finding a connection I could access under the dash. The important point is there are only two wires to the actuator and applying battery power to them should reliably move it.

[hilljroberts]

So I cut the wire at the transom, the actuator works fine. Moved the actuator up and down bridging directly to the battery. So it’s either my switch going or my module. I guess next step will be to call Lenco see if I can get in for on the wire colors coming out of the module so I can test the switch.


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[isaac]

It a rats nest behind the panel... at least mine is/was

[chpthril]

A couple of relays and you can do away with the TAPS module. The only thing the module is need to do, it return the TAPS plate to the up position after shut down.

[hilljroberts]

Yeah, in talking to Lenco it sounds like my module is toast, they don’t have replacements. Sent me back to tige who hasn’t responded yet.

Lenco stated that without replacing the module, the gauge won’t work. They provided me the wiring diagram as well a replacement integrated switch controller and gauge if I want to get one. I’ve attached here for others. It looks like the wiring colors largely line up, but there’s no harness so I’m technically flying blind.

I’m going to use the diagram to validate the switch still works, assuming it does I think I will bridge the actuator directly to the switch in some fashion. If so everything should work at that point except my gauge.





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[hilljroberts]

Yeah, in talking to Lenco it sounds like my module is toast, they don’t have replacements. Sent me back to tige who hasn’t responded yet.

Lenco stated that without replacing the module, the gauge won’t work. They provided me the wiring diagram as well a replacement integrated switch controller and gauge if I want to get one. I’ve attached here for others. It looks like the wiring colors largely line up, but there’s no harness so I’m technically flying blind.

I’m going to use the diagram to validate the switch still works, assuming it does I think I will bridge the actuator directly to the switch in some fashion. If so everything should work at that point except my gauge.





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[SONIC]

From curiosity how does the taps gauge work on the mechanical lencos?
To my knowledge they don't have any feedback as to position like the hydraulic bennetts do.

[hilljroberts]

I have no clue... I wonder if the module is measuring draw or resistance changing somehow and then feeding something back to the gauge.


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[hilljroberts]

Haven’t made much progress on this issue. Got the boat out for first time today, taps worked for half the trip. Definitely feels like it’s a lose connection. The first time it failed was after going over some big waves, started working again 45 minutes later after more waves.

Gonna try to check the connection of every wire coming from the taps module but not optimistic. Open to alternatives....


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