bleeding procedure for Wagner 700 series hydraulic steering, dual station

[Mikeopsycho]

My nephew rebuilt my 700 series Wagner steering ram for me. I've re-installed it on the boat and now I have a couple questions for my fellow iboater's;

- What fluid should I be using? I've owned this boat since 2007 and never had to add fluid till now.
- Should I replace the fluid (how?) or just top it off and bleed the system?
- What is the proper procedure to bleed this system on a flybridge with dual steering stations? There are bleed screws on both ends of the cylinder.

Here's the cylinder,



Here it is back in the boat,

 

[alldodge]

I've always said oil doesn't wear oil it just gets dirty. After doing all that work I would drain and replace just cause. Either way your helm is bleed by rotating the helm back and forth from lock to lock several times. Just keep an eye on the oil level and top off as you go at the helm.

Once the helm is filled the cylinders are bleed by cracking the lines one at a time, and while keeping the helm mostly full bleeding the air out. Once cylinders are done recheck helm.

Its my understanding you should have a valve which changes helm stations so do the same with other helm station.

Sea Star (Wagoner) recommends Sea Star oil but it is just a simple hydraulic pump system. Many have used ATF and 10W hydraulic oil without much issue. Only issue I have heard about is in cold climates the steering can get a little stiffer if other oils are used. This has also be alleviated by using synthetic ATF and the like.

Edit: link http://www.sealandpower.com/Controls & Steering/Wagner Hydraulic Steering(5).pdf

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Thanks for the reply AllDodge. I agree, I'd like to change the oil, but I'm not sure how to drain it, maybe just undo the fittings at the cylinder and pop the fill caps at the steering stations will drain everything? Although this is Wagner, not Sea Star, I'm thinking the same types of oil should work fine in either system. I like your idea of synthetic ATF.

My boat doesn't have a valve to change helm stations. When you steer from one helm the other wheel doesn't move, but a jokester aboard sitting at the other helm can really mess with your navigating (yes, this has happened to me ).

The cylinder itself is a double action, double rod end unit, with a bleed screw at each end. This one ram provides steering to both engines, and in both directions. What I'm trying to figure out is if I have someone at the upper helm turn the wheel to port, which bleed screw should I loosen, the one on the port end or the starboard end? Or does it matter...(it must matter). Maybe I'm over thinking this and should just try it each way and see what happens :noidea:.

 

[alldodge]

Sorry for taking a while to get back with, I forgot to select subscribe so I wasn't notified of your post. Wagner is now owned by seastar or at least it shows up in at their site.

Changing oil will be an issue but get what you can. You can fill the upper station and turn the helm with hose cracked and the fluid will come out. To bleed do similar filling and turning. See the pic below to determine which one side of the cylinder to bleed

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Hey AD, I didn't realize Wagner was now owned by Seastar, I'll have to have a look at their website. The outfit I got my rebuild kit from is Olympic Drives, out of New Westminster, BC.

Thanks for the picture above, it seems so obvious to me now that I can see it. Hydraulic cylinder bleeding for dummies. :stupid: