245 Osprey trim tab pump

[hhamilton]

I have a 1997 245 Osprey center console.  The trim tap pump and its fluid tank is mounted on the stern wall on the port side low down in the hull.  It is virtually impossible to get to the fluid tank to put fluid in because of it being so deep in the hull and the access door being so narrow.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make putting fluid in the tank a bit easier than having to be a contorsion artist or hiring some skinny kid to get down to it?

Thanks

[flounderpounder225]

Mine is on the STBD side, aft through the access door, it was low, I attached a piece of starboard to the transom material, and moved it up to an accessible area.  You may have to cut and splice in new tubing to get it where you need it.  Regular compression fittings will do the trick from any auto parts store.  The wiring is probably long enough already.

[seabob4]

You have an oddball hh.  The pump normally is where Marc described, starboard side but low, not port.  Bet we had a fill-in in hull prep the day your boat was built!

[Tabman]

I have a 1997 245 Osprey center console.  The trim tap pump and its fluid tank is mounted on the stern wall on the port side low down in the hull.  It is virtually impossible to get to the fluid tank to put fluid in because of it being so deep in the hull and the access door being so narrow.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make putting fluid in the tank a bit easier than having to be a contorsion artist or hiring some skinny kid to get down to it?

Thanks

Can you reach it at all?  If so and there is a little clearance on top if you push up from the bottom it will come out of its mounting bracket.  If there is a little play in the wire harness and tubing you may be able to move it to where you can work on it a bit easier.

Tom
Bennett Marine

[pete]

you can easily take out the screws holding that whole hatch assembly and move it aside for better acsess

[wingtime]

While not an osprey the stern of my Explorer is the same.  mine is mounted on the port side low.  I was able to reach mine and add fluid.

[hhamilton]

The picture of the Starboard side hatch is like mine but I'm having to deal with the Port side hatch which is the same height but 1/4 the size.  This makes it difficult to even get to the pump, much less get to the screws.

Is it possible to screw a fitting into the fill hole, attach a tube to bring it up to the hatch and then plug the tube after filling it?  Would this cause a problem with the hydraulics?

[seabob4]

hh,
Just as Pete has done with the starboard side hatch, remove the port side hatch/frame, this will give you almost 2" more width.  If you can add fluid with that removed, you should be good to go for the life of the boat, as Bennett systems RARELY leak, when all components are installed correctly.  If there is evidence of a leak, or the reservoir level goes down after re-filling and tab usage, then you need to determine the source of the leak and fix it...