Visit our Popular Forums

Celestialsailor · 17-05-2013, 15:07

On my HR 35, I have hydraulic steering. I have always had a tiller bost, so this system is new to me. One thing I have noticed is a 45 degree either way on the wheel before the ram begins to move the rudder. I have bled the lines a few times with no evidence of air. Is this normal? If you have hydraulic steering, let me know how yours is...Thanx

charliehows · 17-05-2013, 15:17

well mine is old and leaky so it creeps, but it responds to the wheel immediately, i regularly increment by 10-ish degrees when hand steering. What you describe does sound unusual - do you know what make the steering pump is? Does the system have a pressure release valve - common on newer systems to protect against back pressure from sea on rudder stress?

Celestialsailor · 17-05-2013, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliehows

well mine is old and leaky so it creeps, but it responds to the wheel immediately, i regularly increment by 10-ish degrees when hand steering. What you describe does sound unusual - do you know what make the steering pump is? Does the system have a pressure release valve - common on newer systems to protect against back pressure from sea on rudder stress?

Ya...It has some sort of valve across both lines. It had another same valve on the dead hydraulic I took out. Do you think it could be the the pressure relief valve? I kept the other one.

rwidman · 17-05-2013, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

On my HR 35, I have hydraulic steering. I have always had a tiller bost, so this system is new to me. One thing I have noticed is a 45 degree either way on the wheel before the ram begins to move the rudder. I have bled the lines a few times with no evidence of air. Is this normal? If you have hydraulic steering, let me know how yours is...Thanx

That's not normal. If it's a Sea Star system, they have pretty good factory support.

Celestialsailor · 17-05-2013, 17:40

I'll have to check out the make.

charliehows · 17-05-2013, 22:19

i wondered about the pressure valve because its hard to imagine how a closed system could do what you describe - but - i dont know much about the pressure valves - if they are interchangeable you could try the old valve on your new system to see if it makes a difference - hope someone a bit more knowledgeable than me can chip in...

Celestialsailor · 17-05-2013, 23:21

Thanx for your input...maybe someone will chime in on this one.

44'cruisingcat · 18-05-2013, 14:52

Is it 45' before the ram moves, or before the rudder moves? It could be as simple as too much freeplay in the mechanical part of the system, where the ram attaches to the quadrant. Once you've gotten all the air out, there really shouldn't be any freeplay in hydraulics.

An easy way to find out is to try pushing the rudder from side to side. Ideally it shouldn't move at all.

goboatingnow · 18-05-2013, 16:18

The valve between the two lines is to allow the use of an emergency tiller.

Ps what's the dead hydraulic line you removed.

I would check for mechanical play firstly

Dave

Celestialsailor · 18-05-2013, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Is it 45' before the ram moves, or before the rudder moves? It could be as simple as too much freeplay in the mechanical part of the system, where the ram attaches to the quadrant. Once you've gotten all the air out, there really shouldn't be any freeplay in hydraulics.

An easy way to find out is to try pushing the rudder from side to side. Ideally it shouldn't move at all.

I checked all that...no play

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

The valve between the two lines is to allow the use of an emergency tiller.

Ps what's the dead hydraulic line you removed.

I would check for mechanical play firstly

Its a check valve...not a mechanical by-pass which I also have.

Do either one of you have hydraulics?

Dave

goboatingnow · 18-05-2013, 19:00

Its air, Bleed exactly as per Sea Stars instructions , especially if you have any "uphill" piping

Dave

Celestialsailor · 18-05-2013, 20:52

Is this the instructions?
Sea Star Fill & Purge Instructions and Troubleshooting

delmarrey · 18-05-2013, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Is this the instructions?
Sea Star Fill & Purge Instructions and Troubleshooting

Those instructions look like they should do. If there is no backlash in the system there should be NO backlash in the wheel. Air compresses, oil does not. So, every movement of the wheel should get you positive movement at the rudder.

This one of the reasons I went with hyd steering, no backlash. I even have gauges P/S that tell me how much feed back/weather helm I'm getting on the rudder.