Trim tab HPU not running

[timharper89]

I have a Bennett trim tab system on a 1987 sundowner 195. Trim tab age unknown as I bought this boat last summer. Last year the tabs worked great. There was a leak in the reservoir, and most all the fluid leaked out this winter. I fixed the reservoir and refilled. Tried the tabs, and they didn't work. There is a clicking sound sometimes when using the switch. I have tried step 3 from tabman at this link at both the switch and the wiring harness. There is power to the hot wire. https://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/747955-bennett-trim-tabs-click.html, and followed this video https://youtu.be/A0nejuAV1rc

Is my motor trashed? What could be causing the ticking? The leads all sparked when I touched them, so that means the circuit is being completed, right? Thanks for any insight

 

[dingbat]

Is my motor trashed? What could be causing the ticking? The leads all sparked when I touched them, so that means the circuit is being completed, right? Thanks for any insight

The ticking are the relays trying to kick the motor. If they click both up and down, the relays and switch are functional

The sparking simply means there is a ground path in the circuit. You will not know if the current is passing through the motor control circuit or through a burnt winding shorting to ground until you test further.

Doesn't sound good....not good to let them sit empty

 

[timharper89]

So I was messing with it today, some light tapping and connecting circuits and such, and it started working slowly at first and is now seemingly functioning normally. Not sure how that happened though. Maybe it needed to fill with fluid?