Purging air from Imco dual ram..
 

I finally installed a dual ram IMCO add on system to my boat. I am having trouble getting it to turn. fluid is full, it will turn to the left, choppily, and return to center and go right about 1/2 way then it locks. Any ideas on getting the air out of the system? Thanks..

Keep turning lock to lock till your arms feel like they are going to fall off, and you should have it.

I think I'm going to crack the lines at the rams and see if I get any air. I'm gonna pull it into the neighbors yard and bleed it out:p

You do not need the engine running to bleed it initially. Have someone at the helm and turn full one direction and crack the fittings that have pressure on them and then have them tunr the other way. do this 5 or 6 times. It will get most of the air out. Then the rest should self bleed.

Make sure the reservoir is topped off while you are bleeding!

Yep, we just finished our Hydraulic install today. Turn all the way to one side and hold hard, loosen the fitting, have the wheel man keep turning and turning while fluid/air come out. Of course you need someone at the pump keeping it topped off as well. Next go to the other side and repeat. Go back and forth a bunch till the play in the drive is minimal, about 1/8 to 1/4".

We got to do ours twice cause as were were just about finished up I noticed a leak in a fitting I hadn't touched!:( It didn't take long the second time though cause the fitting was on the outside near the bleed point. It is all good now. We're finally hittin the water tomorrow to see how it works!:drink:

Now what fittings are you cracking open? Here is a picture of my setup...

Crack the hose fittings that attach to the cylinder fittings. Loosen them just enough to let the fluid flow out, and you can wiggle the hose some, as it should be a swivel connector on the hose end, to help get some air out as well. Make sure that the person at the wheel continuously turns the wheel while the fitting is open and that someone is keeping fluid in the reservoir. Otherwise, you will get air back in the lines. Since you have 2 cylinders, you will need to crack 1 fitting on each cylinder when the wheel is turned to lock. If your wheel is turned to the right, you will loosen the hose fittings for the hoses that connect to the 'R' port on the helm unit. Vice Versa for the left.

[QUOTE=R Addiction;2140346]I think I'm going to crack the lines at the rams and see if I get any air.

Ya think?, where have i heard that before?:rolleyes:

some wanna be boat mechanic told me that once:D call me