Help with steering problems

[JohnB]

All,
I have a 23 foot 89 SeaCraft Sceptre. This is the first boat I have had with hydrolic steering.
The problem is when I turn the whell left, the motor turns left just fine, but when I turn
the wheel right, it take almost a whole turn before the motor starts to turn. If I turn left
again, it immediatly starts to turn left. There is always 3/4 turn delay when I turn the
wheel right. Is the system low on fluid, or is there air in the system, something wore
out???
Thanks for the help in advance.

[capesams]

John B

It takes time to get rid of all the air in the lines. Take the little filler cap off and put a rag around the steering collum . turn the wheel back and forth . do this till your blue in the face. make sure you keep the fluid almost to the top. but be carefull not to get your nose to close. when an air pocket hit's the top it will bubble up and the juice will run out. replace what you lose.keep the fluid almost to top. It need's to be full to work right.-----steve.

[JohnB]

Steve,
My inexperiance with hydraulic is showing.
There is a steering wheel that has 3 lines to the back of it,
A reservior, or something mounted below it, and
the cylinder on the back attached to the motor.
Where is the filler cap?
What kind of fluid does it use?
and I assume this is a self bleeding system,
I don't have to open it somewhere to force the
air out, it will come out of the filler cap.
Thanks in advance for your help,

[capesams]

John b:

SORRY about this I guess we have two different hyd. steering system's. I have a
seastar. The first thing I would do if I were
you is to try and find a brand name some where
either under the console or on the arm just in
front of the motor. Once you have that I would
go to the boat yard that you like to use
[if you have one yet] and ask to see if they can get you the paper work on that brand. You should
have the paper work for anything that you have
in or on your boat so you know what you are dealing with. I'm sorry I don't know what kind
you have.---IS THERE ANYONE ON THIS BOARD THAT
CAN HELP THIS MAN OUT.

( marine steering fluid m/by teleflex )
any 5w engine oil or
atf-dexron 2 transmission fluid maybe
used in emergencies.

isn't it great owning a boat.

[Scott]

JohnB
That might be a Hynautic Hydraulic system...you have the manifold under the wheel then a separate pressure/reservoir tank with hydraulic lines going to the master cylinder on the motor. I use to deal with one of those units...and as I recall you needed to bleed the system with bleeders on the master cylinder on the motor....I think you also had to apply air pressure through a bicycle pump to the reservoir tank.....Steve is describing the Teleflex system which has the hydraulic pump mounted directly under the wheel ... the fill/bleeder cap is right on the front of that hydraulic pump unit (under the wheel)...If your unit has a black cylinder with gold trim rings I think you might have the Hynautic system....I'm sure they have a website and could give you the proper purge procedures...As I recall that unit Hynautic was a pretty good unit... alittle more involved but real nice.
I know this doesnt solve your issue but I hope it helps!!

[JohnB]

Scott,
The unit is definitly a Hynautic Hydraulic system you described.
I have not been able to find purge/bleeding instructions yet, but I will try to call them today.

[JohnB]

The problem was there was no air in the system.
I recharged it to 35#, and it works fine now.
I will watch to see if it holds a charge over the
next couple of days.
Thanks for the responses.

[Briguy]

John,
Is 35lbs of air recommended by the factory. Mine has about 20lbs and is a little bit stiff. I wonder if I pumped it up to 35lbs if it would ease thing up a bit.

[JohnB]

Brian,
I would charge it to 35 pounds. Be careful not to over charge it (blow out a seal).
Someone suggested using a bicicle pump, I used a compressor with a regulator
set to 35. The other thing is alot of people use Transmission fluid, and it looks like
that was put in mine. I drained mine and replaced it with the proper hydraulic
fluid. The tranny fluid make the steering alot stiffer. After I put the right fluid
in and purged the air, it work alot easier (maybe 50%). I don't know how much
of this was due to low air or the wrong fluid, but it steers alot easier and with
less play now. This is the first boat I have had with hydraulic steering so I do not
have a great deal of experiance with this type of steering or maintenance.
Let me know what you find if you charge to 35 pounds.
Hope this helps.