Power Wedge Problem, need advice before a big weekend

[geogilbert]

So tonight my Power wedge broke and it was a strange series of events. I have searched the forums and have some ideas of how to troubleshoot but cant get to it till after work tomorrow. In the mean time I would like to describe what happened and see if any one can give me some advice. I have a big boating weekend planned and there is not enough time for the shop. Any help would be appreciated.

Here is what happened. Not sure if any of these will help diagnose but...

1. We were swapping riders and I hit a preset that should have moved the wedge to the full down position.

2. About 5-10 seconds later I got a low voltage warning. I looked at the display on the right tach and it showed 12.4. A bit lower then normal but within reason.

3. I then noticed the wedge was in the "Danger Zone" at about the 1:00 position.

4. I tried to put it down it did not move. Put it in gear and tried to put it up the gauge moved to about the 2:00 position and stopped.

5. Again moved it up and down a time or two and it moved within that range but not outside of it.

6. I got up under there and checked to see if it was jammed, nothing appeared to be there.

7. Went back to the driver seat and was able to move it up and down a few more times but not out of the same range.

8. Went into the services console and reset it to "no wedge present" locked that in, went back and reset it to present

9. Tried to more it and at this point I got no movement at all. Which is basically when the night was over and we went back to the ramp, very slowly.

So it is now stuck in the one place that makes the boat completely useless.

I looked under the dash at the fuse box and could not easily remove the blue fuse. fearing it was not supposed to com out I left it alone, but I did not notice any reset breaker on it that some people in other threads have mentioned. Is the blue housing a cover for a breaker?

One thought i had is that some how i burnt through a wire in the system which would explain why it would only work for a second then quit all together but not that it would only go to a certain point then quit.

Any one have any other thoughts? I would very much appreciate any thoughts as I said i have a big weekend planned and right now it may get canceled if i cannot find a solution.

Oh, it is an 08 VTX. Thanks in advance for your help.

[geogilbert]

Thought I would through this out there, I figured it out. I did in fact blow one of the pistons. Then by trying to move it blew the other. I had a good tip form someone that has seen this play out before that it is a good idea to replace the fuse for the wedge with a 15 amp one that way if one piston goes bad you will blow the fuse before blowing the other piston. Not sure if it is good advice but thought I would throw that out there.

[old skool malibu]

So tonight my Power wedge broke and it was a strange series of events. I have searched the forums and have some ideas of how to troubleshoot but cant get to it till after work tomorrow. In the mean time I would like to describe what happened and see if any one can give me some advice. I have a big boating weekend planned and there is not enough time for the shop. Any help would be appreciated.

Here is what happened. Not sure if any of these will help diagnose but...

1. We were swapping riders and I hit a preset that should have moved the wedge to the full down position.

2. About 5-10 seconds later I got a low voltage warning. I looked at the display on the right tach and it showed 12.4. A bit lower then normal but within reason.

3. I then noticed the wedge was in the "Danger Zone" at about the 1:00 position.

4. I tried to put it down it did not move. Put it in gear and tried to put it up the gauge moved to about the 2:00 position and stopped.

5. Again moved it up and down a time or two and it moved within that range but not outside of it.

6. I got up under there and checked to see if it was jammed, nothing appeared to be there.

7. Went back to the driver seat and was able to move it up and down a few more times but not out of the same range.

8. Went into the services console and reset it to "no wedge present" locked that in, went back and reset it to present

9. Tried to more it and at this point I got no movement at all. Which is basically when the night was over and we went back to the ramp, very slowly.

So it is now stuck in the one place that makes the boat completely useless.

I looked under the dash at the fuse box and could not easily remove the blue fuse. fearing it was not supposed to com out I left it alone, but I did not notice any reset breaker on it that some people in other threads have mentioned. Is the blue housing a cover for a breaker?

One thought i had is that some how i burnt through a wire in the system which would explain why it would only work for a second then quit all together but not that it would only go to a certain point then quit.

Any one have any other thoughts? I would very much appreciate any thoughts as I said i have a big weekend planned and right now it may get canceled if i cannot find a solution.

Oh, it is an 08 VTX. Thanks in advance for your help.

Just went through a similar issue. I would suggest you turn the Perko switch to no batteries then back on. Then recalibrate the wedge (if possible). If you are getting no response at all look at the fuse. The black part will be pushed out so it is level with the top of the fuse. If it is out then push it back in to reset. If the fuse is ok and still no movement then ouo may have an issue with the power module or the sensor adjustment on the wedge is out.

In my case the wedge sensor was out and I had a defective power module. Luckily my dealer drove 1.5 hrs to my lake and repaired the wedge the same day. I would suggest you contact your dealer and have them walk you through the necessary steps to properlly determine the issue.

[NvBoarder]

Not the answer you want but you could remove the pistons from the wedge and move the wedge manually and then maybe some how get the actuators to move easier, once there is nothing attached to it. Just a thought, remove the side with the cotter pin leave the other side attached. If all else fails remove the wedge and actuators all together and fill the holes going through the transom with silcone caulking. Enjoy the weekend and then have the dealer deal with it at a later date. Good luck

[geogilbert]

Not the answer you want but you could remove the pistons from the wedge and move the wedge manually and then maybe some how get the actuators to move easier, once there is nothing attached to it. Just a thought, remove the side with the cotter pin leave the other side attached. If all else fails remove the wedge and actuators all together and fill the holes going through the transom with silcone caulking. Enjoy the weekend and then have the dealer deal with it at a later date. Good luck

TO figure out what the issue was I started but putting a volt meter on the connections to the pistons just inside the transom. Power read fine. I cut the wires and hooked a 12 volt directly to the pistons, which was advice from the actual piston manufacturer, and got no reaction. Guess I am replacing the Pistons. in the mean time i unhooked them and used industrial strength Zip Ties to put the wedge up to the top and secure it out of the way. All is well till next week. Truth is all i ever use the wedge for is to surf anyhow. The wakeboard wake is much better with just stock and a few extra pounds of people or fat sacs.

Edited September 6, 2009 by geogilbert

[Bake's Marine]

Just FYI, the wedge rams are a screw drive so you can actually disconnect the ram at the pin, screw the ram back in closed. Then put the wedge back up in the storage position and put the pin back in. That way you don't have to rely on something else holding it up.

-Paul

[geogilbert]

Just FYI, the wedge rams are a screw drive so you can actually disconnect the ram at the pin, screw the ram back in closed. Then put the wedge back up in the storage position and put the pin back in. That way you don't have to rely on something else holding it up.

-Paul

Paul, Thanks a bunch. I did not realize I could screw them up. Hm, that sentence might need rewording?

[Bake's Marine]

Just FYI, the wedge rams are a screw drive so you can actually disconnect the ram at the pin, screw the ram back in closed. Then put the wedge back up in the storage position and put the pin back in. That way you don't have to rely on something else holding it up.

-Paul

Paul, Thanks a bunch. I did not realize I could screw them up. Hm, that sentence might need rewording?