telaflex hydrolic steering slipping

[davek1]

I just bought a searay 1988 18 ft runabout with a merc v6 with Teleflex hydraulic steering. I've never driven a boat with this set up. My Q is when I turn the wheel all the way to ether side the wheel will still turn after the motor stops like its slipping. Is this supposed to happen? when on plane turning the wheel against the prop tork the wheel seems to slowly slip. any thoughts .
Thanks dave

 

[alldodge]

I just bought a searay 1988 18 ft runabout with a merc v6 with Teleflex hydraulic steering. I've never driven a boat with this set up. My Q is when I turn the wheel all the way to ether side the wheel will still turn after the motor stops like its slipping. Is this supposed to happen? when on plane turning the wheel against the prop tork the wheel seems to slowly slip. any thoughts .
Thanks dave

No this should not happen. Sounds to be that the cable is slipping inside the helm. Either the cable is worn or the gear teeth. What kind of steering is it, rack or rotary steering?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Alldodge, the title of the post is hydraulic steering, no cables

Davek1, if that is the case and it feels like it is slipping, etc. STOP USING THE BOAT UNTIL YOU FIX IT. seriously, stop using the boat, especially on plane. until you fix it. you could die, or worse kill someone WHEN you loose steering and smash into something.

you have a hydraulic helm unit and a hydraulic slave unit with hydraulic hoses between.

somewhere you have a leak and have air in the system. This could be a loose connection, damaged hoses, failing helm pump, or you have leaking seals at the ram.

At least, you need to purge, preferably change fluid and purge

Here is a youtube vid on hydraulic steering maintenance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6kesRXisxE
Here is a youtube vid on dissassembling and repairing hydraulic steering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGlVMUori3o
Here is an overview video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rRvFp5yZPM

 

[smokeonthewater]

ALL hydraulic steering will creep slowly with turning force applied...

All of my boats that had hydro did it and the brand new $250,000 John deer tractor I'm sitting right now does it...

It's perfectly normal

 

[alldodge]

Scott its an 18 footer and the way the OP is discussing his problem, I don't see him having full hydraulic steering. Hence the reason for my answer

 

[davek1]

thanks for the quick attention everyone has given. AllDodge I think it is all hydraulic I have a cyl attached to the motor with two lines coming out that goes directly to a part under the dash for the steering wheel. and smokeonthewater (creeping) , that best describes what I'm experiencing it turns fine and when the motor reaches full turn there is resistance at the wheel but will still turn slowly with more effort but when on plane its more pronounced the wheel creeps agents the tork of the motor and Scott thanks for the youtube links I will check them out soon. I'm feeling Scotts right. thanks again everyone. Davek1

 

[smokeonthewater]

As long as it stays put when you don't turn it ... If you keep the wheel stationary and the boat gradually turns more and more you have a problem.

 

[davek1]

Scott I just looked at the vids. I do not have any slop at the motor, zero. I can't budge it left or right at all. and no leaks so I'm thinking the problem is with the helm unit. are they rebuildable ? I will start with a flush and bleeding and see what happens and on that note what fluid can I use ? auto power steering, tranz fluid or what . thanks Davek1

 

[smokeonthewater]

Look at my last post.... Does the boat steer gradually without the wheel turning??? IE do you have to constantly turn I to go straight???

If so then yes you have a problem...

 

[JoLin]

Somehow you need to determine if you have a fully hydraulic system. Try contacting Teleflex with as much model info as you can. They were helpful when I needed to replace the helm pump on my old Hynautic system. BTW, my system IS fully hydralic and I can turn the wheel a hundred revolutions in either direction without coming up against any sort of 'stop'. It's completely normal for that type of system.

My .02

 

[davek1]

thanks smokeonthewater. I do think I have to constantly keep turning against the tork to keep strait and the wheel slowly creeps .how hard is it to rebuild the helm unit? thanks for you patience Davek1

 

[davek1]

I'm a little slow at typing . I guess I'm just not used to this type of steering . I will contact Teleflex and asked them thanks Davek1