Baystar steering frozen.

Valkyrie · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: Baystar steering frozen.

Hi Brats,

I need some help here with the Baystar steering on Valkyrie.

We planned on spending 4-5 days in the Lake Erie islands this week, but are now at our cabin instead, sort of a Plan B. We have been doing a lot of non-boat traveling this year, so this was to our first trip this season on Valkyrie as a shakedown for the Erie Canal cruise next month. I spent a few days getting her ready and had routine maintenance done at Mobile East last September before the NC CBGT.

Splashed the boat yesterday afternoon and started to back away from the dock and discovered that I had no steering, the one thing that I didn't check. The wheel could be forced just a few inches in either direction with the motor staying stationary. A PWC owner nudged us in the direction of the dock - the first time that I ever felt thanks for one of those guys!

Anyhow, we pulled the boat and drove a few miles to the only Honda dealer in northern Ohio. I've used those guys before and they seem to know what they are doing, especially the head service guy. One service guy (not the lead mechanic who was not there) lubed the bar that should move in the cylinder, but no joy. He also tried to break it free with a block of wood, but that didn't help either. We left the boat and they will get into it first thing on Monday.

I got into the archives here and saw that there is a different replacement cylinder available and was wondering if this is to be expected of an '05 boat or did I fail to do something to avoid the problem.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

Captains Cat · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:22 am Post subject:

Nick, my '94 with Seastar sat for 4+ years before I bought and worked fine. I'd see if you can get any fluid out of the bleed screws back at the cylinder. You should have one on each end, they look like zerk fittings, you loosten them with a wrench (don't use vice grips [sorry Pat Anderson] and then turn the wheel a little. Catch the fluid. You ought to buy a bottle of spare fluid to have on hand. You probably have some sort of blockage in the lines.

This is assuming (don't know for sure) that Baystar is just a smaller version of Seastar, which I think it is...

Good luck!

Charlie

geebee2 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Nick,

The pump resevoir in my 06 19' started leaking 1st trip out the 2nd year I had it. The resevoir was just plastic. The manufacturer replaced it with no hassle. It seems this model wasn't very reliable. The replacement is all aluminium. I don't know if this helps but you may have the same pump.

Glen

digger · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject:

My bet is that the trouble is with the helm pump. If you do loosen a bleed screw on the slave (the one at the engine), and it allows you to move the motor to that side, then the helm is the culpret. There is little that can go wrong on the slave, other than if the oil had water in it and allowed corrosion -- I doubt it. Best luck, Ron

Wefings · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject:

Not a common occurrence with hydraulic steering . Very common with cable steering where the cable end goes through the tilt tube of the motor and overnight the grease turns into glue .
Marc

Fishhawk · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:39 pm Post subject:

After setting since November and enduring the longsest freezing snap ever seen in the south, we launched Osprey early yesterday morning. It was still below freezing but only a few degrees.

Started the engines and rolled her off the trailer only to discover that the steering was frozen. The wheel would turn but no movement on the engines.

After a few minutes of fussin someting gave way (ICE?) and normal steering resumed.

Any ideas about what might have happened? Is this a common occurence??? Leaves you feeling kinda puny drifting around with no way to control the boat.

Dan

Fishhawk · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:01 am Post subject:

Sorry, this maybe in the wrong thread.
I think our steering is Seastar and not Baystar. I guess I don't know the difference.
Still would like to know what happened.

Dan

Papillon · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:44 am Post subject:

Dan,
Your Ching and Chang...they just went Bang. Cold will effect all things on this earth that it comes into contact with and Bad Karma will take care of the rest.

I would suspect that it was just that, "ICE" or the almost Ice that was about to form on the cylnder plunger in the slave. That is another reason to have a boat barn even in the south.

PS: Nick, you started this thread in July 09 and here it is Jan 10 and we have not heard what your out come to your steering locking up turned out to be. Inquiring Minds ....need a nap.

SEA3PO · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:00 pm Post subject:

I agree... I think the problem is in the pump... and not the ram... bleeding at the ram probably will not have much affect... I think a ball check or valve stuck in the pump... if working it does not break it free... you might try using a hair dryer or heat gun to heat up the pump body ...get it good and hot... sometimes that will break free a stuck check valve just by expansion...(without taking it apart)

Joel
SEA3PO

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:54 pm Post subject:

It could be all the things listed. And it could also be that condensation has formed in the fluid over the years and now something is locked up by rust. Hopefully, it is not and just something simple.