Offshoreonly.com - Hydraulic Steering Shake

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I am a bit confused as well. Following since I had a 1990 OMC King Cobra I loved on my last boat.
I installed full hydro steering on my Formula 292, and there are 4 hoses to the helm. Pressure IN, Turn Left, Turn Right, and Low pressure return to pump.
I thought the 2 hose system was more on smaller setups? usually outboards?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBYSTWY (Post 4859310)

I'm trying to understand your plumbing....power steering pump is plumbed to the factory power steering arm at the transom and you simply replaced the cable with a cylinder that has hoses running to the helm correct? If that's the case I'm betting you have different retract valving rates on the two cylinders and they temporarily fight each other when switching directions....I'm wondering if there is a better way to plumb everything all together into one system.

That being said...in my mind you have two separate systems working here correct? If so...have you bled both systems independently? As in the helm/ram system and the OEM power steering system?

I could be way off but that's what I'm thinking if that's how it's setup? Just trying to help

You are exactly correct on the plumbing. They are 2 completely separate hydraulic systems, and I have bleed both systems independently many times now. I do still have a tech at a marina telling me I need to power bleed the hydraulic system from the helm, to cylinder, to autopilot. The whole reason for converting to hydraulic steering was for a more accurate auto pilot at low speeds.

The tech at the marina who I talked to also said most people who use power steering with an auto pilot, use an electronic power steering unit.

I'm thinking it's the valving in the 2 different cylinders....I would consider trying to find a way to plumb the systems together...I doubt you will be able to as I am pretty sure that the sea star is a low pressure system and won't take the pressure from the pump.

You did say the shake went away with the PS belt off correct? How did it steer? That essentially isolated the system on the boat with no fluid running through the stock cylinder and only running off of the sea star system...maybe you don't even need to run the OEM system/pump if it steers fine without it?? Just a thought?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBYSTWY (Post 4859315)

Im leaning towards the valving as well. I never thought about plumbing the systems together, I have been talking to a sea star rep and I will ask him.

Yes, the shake went away with the power steering pump not running. If all else fails and I don't have it figured out by the time the weather gets warm, I probably will run the boat with the power steering off to see how it does. My very first boat had the old OMC stringer outdrive with no power steering, and my second boat was mercruiser with power steering. I was pretty amazed at the difference power steering actually made.