Hydrive hydraulic steering Australia BEWARE!!

[Steel sails]

Refit Freydis 49 Cat
I ordered a hydraulic steering system complete with autopilot from Hydrive in Australia.. Would have preferred A jefa system but the tie bar modifications seemed to difficult considering the boat is in Panama. Yesterday I asked them for an alternative to their private label hydraulic oil and was told there isn't one. Teleflex used to play this game with their sea star but were sued under antitrust laws and now provide an equivalent spec.

To buy hydrive oil ex New York approx 200$ , to airfreight to Panama FedEx 15 liters 609$ plus customs clearance I guess 200$
Therefore we are around a 1000$ for 3 gallons of hydraulic oil that should cost 40 $ from an industrial supply house ,or say 100$ in aviation grade.
Why do these people do it? I spent more than 7k $ with them and they chicken **** you on oil. They have alienated a customer who spent $7k for a 100$

They then tell me that their oil is unique, made specially for them when we all know that they have bought an off the shelf brand and private labelled it.
I asked for the spec they sent me a Msds sheet.

So my advice find another supplier, I bet their next step,will be to void the warranty if I don't use their fluid.

Regards
Paul

[44'cruisingcat]

Even worse, you probably got a Cursemaster autopilot!

[boden36]

That's really strange - I have had sterling service from a Hydrive unit for over 20 yrs. It uses Dexron ATF.
Sounds like things have gone backwards at Hydrive if what they have told you is correct.

Regards,
Richard.

[delmarrey]

Hydraulic steering oil is usually a 10W with a rust inhibitor and possibly some antifoaming agent. But hell even Dexron IV ATF would work for awhile. It's just polyticks to screw people over. Unless they use some hybrid rubber for the seals.

[Steel sails]

I made a big fuss with them and Finally got someone higher up the food chain there to talk sense about it.
They used to use dextron but had problems with it and had the ultra15 blended by fuchs as an alternate suggested I use an ISO15 with anti foam and anti wear additive. They say their special stuff has 20% less friction than Rando HDZ.

Re the autopilot yes it's a course master is that likely to be a problem. I intend to fit a simrad as the primary and use this as the backup.
Regards
Paul

[44'cruisingcat]

Definitely agree with the Simrad as primary!