Hydraulic steering questions
 

I added a hydraulic helm after previously putting on an add on single ram hydraulic system. Now my steering wheel never seems to end up in the same place. Anyone have any idea why? Could it be air in the system? Any advice how to purge the air? Should hydraulic steering eliminate the low speed I/O wander?

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

It won't help wandering at idle on a single engine boat.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Hydraulic wont center like cable stearing does.
the conection between the wheel and the drive is liquid and there is slippage ( best term I could think of ) so don't expect the wheel to stay centered.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Your wheel does`nt stay centered because it is a fluid connection instead of a mechanical one, that`s just the way it works. Get a three spoked wheel so it does`nt make you crazy.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Thanks Guys. Apparently mine is working like it is supposed to. You are right, It does drive me crazy. I guess I will get used to it.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Sledge Hammer
Call the people you bought the helm from.
They will know the precise answer.
Installing the helm and bleeding the system does take some effort, you have to add a little fluid at a time and keep checking the reservoir. After several turns from left to rignt and some bleeding back at the cylinder you eventually will get all the air out.
Post what you find out.
Brian

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Full hydraulic helms always have some internal leakage so you loose your center position. To see what I mean, with the pump engine running hold the system against full steering lock. The wheel will creep. Because of the design of hydraulic helms it's usually worse in one direction than the other, I can't remember which direction. I've been in singles that with just the right conditions you would need to keep turning the wheel slightly to make up for the leakage against the steering torque.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Falcon, what you describe is exactly what mine does. Thanks for the feed back everyone.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Do you think you still have air in the system? Does the reservoir level change much with the engine running vs not? It will change some due even with all of the air out because of line expansion under pressure.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

I installed a WPM full hydraulic system with dual rams. It took 3 weekends of boating and adding fluid before the system completly bled all the air out. The steering pretty much stays centered unless I force the steering against full lock. Very happy with the system except it is still a little heavy at 800rpm. Does any one know of an upgrade for the power steering pump?

Mark

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Check with the manufacturer first but if you drill out the relief valve on the back of the pump to the next larger size, you will see some improvement in your low speed heaviness. I did that to my Marine Machine system and it lightend it up a bit.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Thanks Roger,

I did that and it did help some. However lock to lock at idle is still slower than I would like.

BTW. I am using stock merc pump with about 100 hours use.

Mark

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Single ram systems are not balanced. One side has more volume than the other due to the volume of the rod in the cylinder. ie, it takes 3 turns of the helm to fill the ram completely in one direction (helms pump a constant volume/turn) but only 2 1/2 turns to fill in the other. Twin ram systems are balanced and this effect is negligable.
Gary

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

I thought about a smaller pulley, anyone tried that?

Mark

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

Oh yeah, the exception to this are the single ram units mounted on the front of OB and some IB rudder rams. They have a rod that extends through both sides of the ram with the piston in the middle.
Gary

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

The smaller pulley will help, but make sure you won't end up turning the pump much over 5600rpm. This should allow you close to a 1:1 ratio which is close to what the Merc Racing 500efi and newer engines turn.

Re: Hydraulic steering questions
 

If you want to center the wheel after it gets off. With engine off turn the wheel until drive is straight. Then turn wheel to the lock & slow keep pressure on it. The wheel with slowely move. Once you have moved it enought it will be back to the center. I use to do this about once a month. Now it does not bother me anymore.