Hydraulic Steering
 

What is the best way to refill a completely empty SeaStar hydraulic steering system? I replaced the hoses on my Seabird the other day and need to get it working again.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Scott, fill up the reservoir and turn the wheel lock to lock a few times, loosen the nut on the helm, let the air out, and refill. Repeat this process many many wonderful times and you should be good to go. :rolleyes:

But knowing a punk like you, you probably put the lines on backwards. :D

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Scott

See if you can get your Dad to help. It's better with two people as one turns the wheel as the other loosens and tightens the bleeder valve. Use a small cup to catch the fluid under the bleeder valve and then re-use.

BTW: Keep mucho rags handy like Funster keeps in his cabin http://www.floridasportsman.com/art/tooth.gif

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

His old system probably doesn't have a bleeder valve.

Surly Gomer Chuck would have this in his Sears catalog.http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/ae...smiley-025.gif

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

put oil vertical on top of binical with poly tube cut hole bottle top go lock to lock no bleaders, a couple otimes works great

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Scott, I ran out to the barn and snapped these two photos
of my 1 man SeaStar purge system. PVC, barbed fittings,
5/16 hose all from local plumbing supply for under $20. Nylon fitting into helm filler plug, long hose from side of PVC tube to either side of hydraulic ram on motor.
Just hang tube above helm fill up tube, open bleeder turn wheel till no bubbles come out of ram. Reverse process for other direction of steering. It takes about 3 times turning wheel real slow to get all the air out. If you want more detailed photos, let me know. See ya Ken
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...4/PDR_0008.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...PDR_0007-1.jpg
BTW: I just replaced the ram seals before Anclote and a
quart of SeaStar fluid was almost $15 :(

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Nice snap shot Ken.

Here are SeaStar purging instructions
web page

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Ken,
Is there anything you don't have in that barn of yours? :)

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Ken, he didn't ask for a freak'n enema. :D

I don't think so... :D

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Yo Fungster,

That was remnants of my old bong from college days :rolleyes:
I had to find some other use for it.

And Carla, thats why I had to build the barn because,
I just cannot throw anything away!!!! :D

See ya, Ken

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Ken-

That is a great contraption, Hyd Bleeder by day and Hookah at night, very cool!

I wish I had one last week as I just added a second cylinder to the Whaler's system with the help of Scott from Viking Marine. I am unsure what he did but as we are bleeding the system, me at the helm turning the wheel and he at the bleeder valves at the engine(s)he played a trick on me, I am sure of it, not sure how he did it but he must of closed the valve while I was turning the wheel and then released the valve suddenly after the pressure built up.....at that point the helm burped and shot a geyser of fluid right in my face and all over the hard top....what a mess.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Hopefully Scott took some pictures of the geyser in Jason's mug that he can share with us.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Gentlemen (and Finster too),
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll give Ken's fill/bong combo deal a try. I figure if it doesn't work I can always use it for something else. ;)

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

...and yes it does have a bleeder valve, wise ass.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Then why are you asking dumb questions, dufuss. :rolleyes:

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

geewilikers mr. jayson, i shur hope that was hidrolic flued that got ya in the yap. i cant say hear what peepaw was doin when thad happund to me but it shur wernt hidrolic flued. suprized the bigoly outa me too!

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

i am not trying to steal this thread but have a question about my seaastar as well. i read the manual and it does not specify how to hook up the hoses from the helm to the steering cylinder. maybe im just not seeing it. can some one shed some light on this for me. thanks!

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

On the back of the helm, the hose connections are marked "P" & "S" ;)

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

one hose has a green cap on both ends and the other has a red cap. so do i put one on the "P" side of the helm and go to the "P" side of the steering cylinder? this is where im confused because in the filling instructions it shows the hoses crossed.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Yes, correct. The reason for the caps on each end is to
1.keep them distinguished & 2.keep debris out while routing.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

"P"= Port= Red?? "G"=Stbd=Green??

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Correct.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

i am just tryin to double check before i mess something up. so the "red" hose goes on the "port" side of the helm and goes to the "starboard" side of the cylinder? and the opposite for green? i have not put any hoses on anything yet because i have no help to bleed at the moment and i am not sure if i need to put and pipe sealing (teflon tape) on the threads or not?

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

No, port goes to port and stbd to stbd.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

i downloaded the pdf instructions from teleflex and the picture shows the hoses crossing thats why i am confused.. thanks for clarifying for me scottm.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Well if that is the way Teleflex says to install them, I did mine wrong. Luckily I have not filled the reservoir yet so it's an easy fix. I'll have to check the Teleflex instructions myself and see if I'm wrong.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

what about any kind of pipe thread sealant? did u use any of that? hopefully ill have mine operation by thursday/friday.. ill let u know which is correct if have not done it. if u look at page 48 and 49 on the pdf and it shows the hoses being crossed..

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

OK here it is!!!! the hoses MUST BE REVERSED!!!!!!!!!!!!
and no pipe thread is needed cuz the hoses have an o-ring in them.. got mine all filled and bled today. didnt take too long. very simple procedure.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

So what you're saying is if the red hose is attached to the port side of the helm it must be attached to the starboard side of the steering cylinder?

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

i put the reds on one side and the greens on the other and the motor turns the wrong way.

Re: Hydraulic Steering
 

Filled the steering on Saturday with NoBones' fill/bong setup and it worked perfect. I didn't use any sealer on the threads and so far no leaks. I do have a leak at the shaft seal on the helm so I'll need to pull the wheel this week and fix that. Thanks to all for the input/suggestions.