It seems I have a mismatched hydraulic steering system. It has a Sauer-Danfoss /VERADO helm which is rated at 3.05 Cubic Inches of volume. The cylinder is and unknown brand...the pump is the factory GM pump on the engine. The problem is the cylinder takes too much volume for the helm. So it takes over 8 turns lock to lock.
I have already changed the helm to a faster unit...the fastest one I can get without changing all my hydraulic lines...and that helped a little, but only a couple turns....I was at 10 turns lock to lock before this.

So now I am thinking I need to get a faster cylinder. One that will move quicker with the helm volumn I have.
I need suggestions, I am open to anything except spending $1000s on a complete new system.
Here is a pic of the cylinder I have....anyone know who makes it?

That might be a Hynautic K5 cylinder.

Is that a balanced cylinder, a seastar helm would push that ram with out spending too much.

Looks like an old hynautic to me - I got two laying around. Sounds like the helm is the problem. Most of the used, inexpensive helms I have seen online and on e-bay are for inboard cruisers or outboards, with very small single cylinders, and will get you 8+ turns no matter what cylinder you use - the inboard cylinders are just that much smaller I guess. A buddy runs his donzi that way, with two hynautics out back, and 8 turns lock to lock - don't know how he stands it. Gonna need to find a helm meant for outdrives, which means the large cylinders - I was never able to find one used, without the whole system. New seems to be at least a $300 - 400 item, and might be your only option. Just my .02

That is NOT a balanced cylinder and so you can push that with any of the seastar helms except the pro models, but the seastar's largest model only pushes 2.4cu.in. per rev anyway.

That cylinder appears to have a very large piston and takes a large amount of fluid to move, it appears to be more like a heavy equipment cylinder whereas a typical Latham or Mayfair cylinder has a low volume to displacement requirement. Perhaps the helm and pump are sized well, just update the cylinder and you are golden.

I have this helm for hynautic, but the threads for the wheel are damaged . used with the can.

Give Rik at Arneson a call. I bought a helm from him awhile back that was relatively inexpensive and it worked well on a ram about the same size as yours.

A knowledgeable guy at a hydraulic supply store should be able to help you out. Hydraulic power steering is used on all kinds of industrial equipment. They tend to charge less than pure marine stores.

My Cigarette Mistress has that same cylinders on it. I don't know what volume of oil it that to move it. All the older Cigarette's use them.