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AK Angler
Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 327 City/Region: South Central
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Rod Holder
Photos: Rod Holder
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 12:32 am Post subject: Hydraulic steering maintenance |
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This is just a reminder to those of us running hydraulic steering... hydraulic is great, but it's not maintenance free. I recently had a leaky steering cylinder and changed the seals. (a relatively simple task.) When I went to bleed the system, I decided against using the bottle of fluid I had opened last fall when I was had to top off the system (the center bottle), due to how dark it was compared to the new bottles I bought a couple months ago (left bottle). I figured it had absorbed water from being open. The bottle on the right is some of the nasty fluid that came out when I was bleeding. So, I went ahead and flushed out all the old fluid, replacing it with the new clear-ish stuff. (Most of the old fluid was actually darker than this because this has some new stuff mixed in.) Anyway, you might want to put a fluid flush on your maintenance list.
_________________ -Rod
89CD16A- The Navicula has been sold... |
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AK Angler
Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 327 City/Region: South Central
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Rod Holder
Photos: Rod Holder
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 2:01 am Post subject: |
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FYI: Both the Seastar and the Baystar installation manuals say to "Check hydraulic oil for cleanliness, flush if required" every 200 hours or 12 months, whichever comes first. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20829 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Great points. Hydraulic fluid is far cheaper (as long as it fits the specs) in other places, such as air port fixed base operators. I got a gallon for $10.
Mil- Spec H-5606C _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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ssobol
Joined: 27 Oct 2012 Posts: 3382 City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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There are various types of hydraulic fluids. Some are compatible and some are not. Putting in the wrong type can dissolve the seals and/or hoses.
If you go to a FBO and ask for hydraulic fluid, they are going to ask you what kind do you want. Saying you want the type that goes in your boat is not going to get you very far. |
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AK Angler
Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 327 City/Region: South Central
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Rod Holder
Photos: Rod Holder
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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In that case, you would be asking the person behind the counter for hydraulic fluid that meets mil spec H-5606C, as Thataway posted. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20829 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Here is a list of the Sea Star manual or Mil Spec oils:H 5696C:
• Texaco HO15
• Aero Shell Fluid #41
• Esso Univis N15
• Chevron Aviation Fluid A
• Mobil Aero HFA
• Fluids meeting Mil H5606 specifications.
Kendall hyken Glacial Blu,
Royce 756
Phillips X/C 66
• Automatic transmission fluid Dexron ll may be used in an emergency.
Many FBO buy the oils in 55 gallon drums Bring your own can--and that is how you can get it cheaply...
In the most recent bay star especially, they no longer mention the alternatives. You know full well Sea Star buys off the shelf oil and then marks it up many XX |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I've never done it and the boat is 9 yrs old. What is the procedure? _________________ "We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013 |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20829 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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The simple answer is you put clean fluid into the pump reservoir and with an open bleeder on one side of the ram, turn the helm to that side:--push the old fluid out of that side, then close that bleeding fitting, and open the opposite, turn the helm pump the opposite way, and push the old fluid out of that side. Easiest if you have the tubing fitting which screws into the filler plug (as I recollect it should come with the instillation kit), and hang a quart of fluid up to keep some "head pressure" so that no air is introduced into the system. You want to get all of the old fluid out of the rams, line and pump. You will probably get a little cross contamination, but it makes not difference, as long as the fluid is dry and clean. |
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AK Angler
Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 327 City/Region: South Central
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Rod Holder
Photos: Rod Holder
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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Instead of trying to balance a quart bottle of hydraulic fluid with a pinhole in it to let the oil flow as described by Seastar (that just seems like a mess waiting to happen), I made an adapter for a funnel out of a brass hose fitting that screws into the helm, a short length of stiff fuel line, some black tape, and of course, a funnel. (You may be able to see the fuel line going up into the neck of the funnel a couple of inches.) It works for me...
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Wandering Sagebrush
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 2770 City/Region: Northeast Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Constant Craving
Photos: Constant Craving
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Scroll down in this thread to the second post from Boris. It's the most efficient method for us shade tree mechanics that I am aware of...
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=23370 _________________ "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln |
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AK Angler
Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 327 City/Region: South Central
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Rod Holder
Photos: Rod Holder
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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I'd propose that it the procedure of choice is less important than actually getting it done. Letting your hydraulic oil get nasty like I did isn't exactly doing the system any favors. |
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Wandering Sagebrush
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 2770 City/Region: Northeast Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Constant Craving
Photos: Constant Craving
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 12:39 am Post subject: |
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AK Angler wrote: | I'd propose that it the procedure of choice is less important than actually getting it done. Letting your hydraulic oil get nasty like I did isn't exactly doing the system any favors. |
I agree! |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the link. Basically, like bleeding brakes. I think I can handle that. Now to search for the fluid... |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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I just ordered a gallon of Phillips X/C 66 (aviation) fluid meeting the requirement from an on-line supplier for $25 plus $14 freight. Same gallon of Seastar fluid was $80 + frt. I don't have time to run around looking for an aviation supplier willing to sell some to me. |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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Mark,
I don't know how much you will need but 2 of these is about $56 and free shipping at our favorite marine supplier (WM).
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/seastar-solutions--seastar-hydraulic-steering-fluid-1-quart--454710
[img]http://www.westmarine.com/buy/seastar-solutions--seastar-hydraulic-steering-fluid-1-quart--454710/zoomImages[/img]
I think there's one of those stores on every dock right?
Harvey
SleepyC
_________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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