3500 Open deck lift piston

[drmiagi11]

I am about to purchase a 2001 3500 Open. Both pistons raise the access hatch for the engine compartment fine, but lowering the port one goes down much faster. Multiple up and down to get it to close evenly, otherwise a severe twist. Are replacement pistons available, or is there an easier fix? Thanks

[hiccup]

I suspect it has to do with voltage drop in the reversing circuit as opposed to a bad actuator. As a next step I would measure the voltage at the actuators while lifting and while lowering, both sides. That would be definitive. If the voltages are the same on each side for each direction, that points at the actuator; if the voltages are different, that points at the electrical circuit.

If it is the electrical circuit like I suspect, I would plan on replacing the wiring to the circuit breakers, the circuit breakers, the wiring to the reversing relays, the reversing relays, and the wiring from the reversing relays to the actuators. Sounds like a lot but not too bad. Maybe $150 worth of parts and maybe 4 hours of labor.

A less expensive but more band-aid type fix would be to replace the single switch that activates both actuators at once with two separate switches, each activating one actuator. Normally you would hold both switches at once, but if they get out of sync, you let go of the one that is 'ahead' of the other until they're even, then press both again. Simple change but requires monitoring while using.

[drmiagi11]

I suspect it has to do with voltage drop in the reversing circuit as opposed to a bad actuator.  As a next step I would measure the voltage at the actuators while lifting and while lowering, both sides.  That would be definitive.  If the voltages are the same on each side for each direction, that points at the actuator; if the voltages are different, that points at the electrical circuit.

If it is the electrical circuit like I suspect, I would plan on replacing the wiring to the circuit breakers, the circuit breakers, the wiring to the reversing relays, the reversing relays, and the wiring from the reversing relays to the actuators.  Sounds like a lot but not too bad.  Maybe $150 worth of parts and maybe 4 hours of labor.

A less expensive but more band-aid type fix would be to replace the single switch that activates both actuators at once with two separate switches, each activating one actuator.  Normally you would hold both switches at once, but if they get out of sync, you let go of the one that is 'ahead' of the other until they're even, then press both again.  Simple change but requires monitoring while using.

---

Thank you. I will take possession shortly (the boat is overall fabulous condition) and will be checking the wiring early on.

[drmiagi11]

I started with the switch. Only three wires, so Tiara splits the leads for clockwise and counterclockwise down the line. I started to peel back the black plastic split loom and found a splice, probably factory, to the pigtails on the motor. There was a very tight zip tie binding the wires exiting the motor to the motor housing. It bent the wires at an extreme angle. Removed the zip tie, straightened the wires- worked perfectly !!! I will probably probe for a split wire in the spring, but going to winter storage today so I will leave it alone for now. Thanks for pointing me to the wires. Saved a lot of time and mechanic expenses.