R31 engine hatch issue

[Ernie]

When I raise or lower the hatch on the engine compartment it has an annoying habit of stalling or slipping as it starts up or down. Rather than one smooth swing from bottom to top it sort of stalls and stops. It always then catches up and continues to open smoothly. Is this normal or is it a sign of a problem?

 

[Gin]

First, I’m assuming your have the Bennett hydraulic system, which operates your trim tabs and the hatch lift. That’s what my 2019 has, but I think the factory has used an electric system more recently. If you do have the Bennett system, read on.

I would say your experience isn’t out of the range of normal, depending on how severe or protracted the stalling might be. The hatch and trim tabs work off the same hydraulic reservoir — the combination seems like it is at the outer edge of what that single reservoir is designed to handle. In my experience, the hatch tends to stall or be sluggish in starting to lift in two situations: (1) when I haven’t been on the boat for a few weeks or otherwise haven’t raised the hatch in that kind of a time period; and (2) when temps drop (late fall through early spring). One trick that works for me is to flip on the trim tab breaker and make sure the trim tabs are fully raised before I raise the hatch. I leave the tabs fully raised when docked, but after the boat sits for awhile, the tabs and the pressure in the lines seems to drop a bit. If I raise the tabs and make sure the pressure is up, the hatch is more responsive. Also, once I’ve raise and lowered the hatch, I rarely have any issue with the hatch soon afterwards (within a few days or so).

In short, all in all, I’ve found the hatch/trim tab system reliable, but a bit fussy after it has been sitting awhile and in colder temps. Raising the trim tabs (even when they’ve been left in the fully raised position) and then raising the hatch seems to pressurize everything so that the hatch lift is more immediately responsive — at least, until the boat sits again for a few weeks or colder weather comes on.

I’ll be interested in what others say about their experience.

Gini

 

[CaptT]

Agree with Gini's comments above but would add to check the hydraulic fluid reservoir level to make sure it's full and the charge state of your batteries can also affect the performance of the hatch function.

Terry

 

[Ralf H]

Hi Ernie,

Great information from everyone else here so far, but to reiterate: the system splits the hydraulic fluid between the trim tabs and the hatch ram, so the tabs should be put into the full up position to get the best performance from the ram. This is worsened a bit when you are low on fluid. (as CaptT mentioned) The hatch can actually get stuck in mid travel or not move at all if the fluid is sufficiently low. This will create the symptoms that Gin mentioned as well. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Ralf

 

[Ernie]

Thanks folks
I look at all those things on my boat
It’s a 2022, so I’m not sure it’s hydraulic, but I look closer

 

[Mike and Sarah]

Ernie, I’m confident your engine hatch lift is electric as my 2021 r31 is electric. I can confirm ours has no skips or delays when operating the switch. I would guess you either have a switch problem or more likely the electric ram is defective. Talk to the factory guys to get it replaced under warranty.

 

[TMAX31]

Ernie, my 2021 R31 sometimes sticks when first opening the first 6 to 12 inches although I never had an issue going down or after the initial opening that day. I lubed everything and checked alignment and it seems ok. However every now and then it skips mostly after it’s been hot — making me think the hatch seal may be sticking a little.

 

[S. Todd]

I am not sure if this is you issue but if the ram motor is running the entire time even during the "skip" it may be: The electric hatch lift has a slide attachment to the ram so that if you have a battery or ram failure you can still lift the hatch a small amount in order to pull the pin that holds the ram to the hatch. If you don't stop the ram once the hatch is closed you can continue to pull the pin down the slide bracket which sometimes then causes a bumpy/skip when you raise the hatch. You want to stop the ram as soon as the hatch is closed so that you don't eliminate the "slide" in the event you need to use it.

 

[Gin]

Hi Ernie,

Great information from everyone else here so far, but to reiterate: the system splits the hydraulic fluid between the trim tabs and the hatch ram, so the tabs should be put into the full up position to get the best performance from the ram. This is worsened a bit when you are low on fluid. (as CaptT mentioned) The hatch can actually get stuck in mid travel or not move at all if the fluid is sufficiently low. This will create the symptoms that Gin mentioned as well. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Ralf

Ralf’s input is good. Just an addition, though. The problem can arise even with a good reserve of fluid in the hydraulic reservoir. Immediately after experiencing the delay in the hatch raising, I started checking the level of the hydraulic reservoir. it was never low. I eventually started having some leakage of the pink ATF fluid it uses, which seemed to be coming from the overflow vent on top. I called the factory [Bennett, not Ranger Tug]. They agreed it was an overflow issue and thought I should reduce the fluid (although they told meadvised that having it overfilled is generally not a problem at all). I did draw off a couple of ounces of fluid, which appears appears to have solved the slight overflow issue. Meanwhile, FWIW, the delay or hesitation I experience in my hatch is unaffected by all that.

Gini

 

[wcook]

Re: 2018 R29S
Our Bennett hydraulic engine cover ram will not close today (it opened just fine).
Fluid is full, batteries fully charged, trim tabs are up.
Tried lowering and raising trim tabs.
I removed the up/down switch and reversed the wires to try to close it, but it didn’t work.
I removed the upper cotter pin so the hatch can partially close with the ram fully extended but leaning back towards the window.
Perhaps it is over-extended.
Any ideas how to lower the ram cylinder?
If I completely remove the ram to replace it, seems like the fluid would lose pressure and pour out of the hydraulic supply line.

 

[bill46]

I have had that issue. Fixed by shakeing while trying to lower. Seems to jam all way up. Now when raising I lower an inch .

 

[wcook]

Thanks, I reattached the cotter pin and tried shaking and pushing on the engine cover while pushing the down switch.
No movement, but a shot of fluid did squirt out of an access hole near the top of the cylinder.
Perhaps the up/down switch should be replaced.
Or, if the ram is over-extended, it may be broken now and need to be replaced.

 

[S. Todd]

2021 R29S -Engine hatch popping noise and skipping as it raises with the Lenco electric hatch lift has just occurred after prior smooth operation. I discovered that the wire lock pin that is used to attach the lifting ram to the slide mechanism mount to the bottom of the hatch has failed. Somehow the wire lock got twisted up on the slide and was catching on the slide. It eventually broke but was binding enough to caused the popping noisy and bouncy lift. Time to source a new stainless wire lock pin (1/4" x 3" is the original equipment). I am not sure whether I installed the wire lock on the top side of the ram or the bottom side but think that may have been the reason it got tangled up. I intend to put the wire lock on the bottom side once I source a new one and see if that gives better long term performance. If anyone else has experienced this issue and has found a preventive measure I would be interested in hearing from you.