Hydraulic Steering Maintenance

J

Jazzmanic

New member
We have the Baystar Hydraulic Steering installed on C-Dancer. This is the beginning of our second season and I've noticed that steering to the left is more of an effort now, it's kind of "sticky". I'm going to check the steering fluid and refill if needed but my question is, do all of you wipe down and lube the cylinder regularly? Could this be the reason my steering sticks? And if you lube it, what do you use?
 
I've got the Seastar version but when I had that problem i found that bleeding the system iaw the instruction book solved the problem. It's not too hard and cured it completely. Not sure how air finds its way in but it did. Be sure to have a quart of hydraulic fluid on hand, you'll probably need it.

Charlie
 
I just installed a ST-6000 autopilot, and have become an expert on bleeding the steering system.

Get instructions from the Teleflex/Seastar web site. They're pretty good.

Then, the reccomended oil is Teleflex oil ($12.50/qt, $55/gal), or (from Seastar site) Mil-H5606C ($24/gal at an airplane supply,)

Hand/manual bleeding is a pain, since the volume of the pump is small thus the velocity is small, and the hydraulic lines go up and down. However it works. Get some 5/16" plastic hose for the bleed fittings at the engine cylinder, and you can reuse the oil (put the output into a CLEAN can.) Teleflex also sells ($12,) a filler kit, which is a 1/4" plastic pipe fitting, a piece of plastic tube, and a cap with a spout on it. Worth the money to me, buy easy enough to make one. Don't forget the push pin that they supply.

Takes two people; a significant other to hold the bleed oil supply up at the wheel/pump and turn the wheel, and you to loosen the bleed fittings on the cylinder (or vice versa.) With a quart supply bottle, one can only bleed a quart through at a time.

The factory has a power bleeder. Found one on sale for only $500. Back to hand bleeding.

Sorry youall had to read this, but I had to do it.

Boris
 
"the reccomended oil is Teleflex oil ($12.50/qt, $55/gal)"

What a deal....only $5 extra if you buy a gallon of it! :shock:

I bought the stuff from West Marine, forgot how much it was but a quart is plenty unless you waste it. I bought three and still have 2 1/2 left!
 
Thanks Charlie and Boris. I was already planning on buying the Teleflex oil and the filler kit. I'm pretty handy but haven't had to do much maintenance on the new boat, guess it's time to learn. :smile I didn't realize it would take bleeding the lines to fix the problem but am grateful to have this forum and knowlegable guys like you to "steer" me in the right direction (pun intended)
Peter
 
Doesn't the BayStar have a rod/draglink that slides through the pivot tube when turning, very much similar to the way cable steering motion is transmitted? That could be where the stickiness is. The SeaStar cylinder moves with the motor, but the BayStar is stationary, correct? (How would I know - I still have the cable for another year.)

Also in the how would I know category - If there are no leaks in the system and the oil level has not dropped too low, how would air get into it to require bleeding? Maybe the steering valve as a pump makes the system different than conventional hydraulics, but if the cylinder is allowed to reach both ends of its stroke and cycled enough times, it should bleed itself.

One more in the how would I know vein - Where does DoD stand on this issue? He works with oil, he invents stuff like this, and he has the BayStar system.
 
also you should grease the enigne fittings at least once a month or as needed. I had been using automotive tube lube and that is a nono as it washes out. Make sure you use marine type lube.
 
Where does DoD stand on this issue?

Hey Mike, do you mean the Department of Defense? I didn't even know that Donald Rumsfeld even owned a C-Dory.... :shock:

I think my SeaStar holds the engines still and rotates the boat.... :smilep
At least that's what it feels like sometimes. You've still got "cable"? At least it's broadband.... :D

charlie
 
I feel like this may be a stupid question. Perhaps, but can anyone offer some insight as to the nature of the plastic caps over the bleeder nipples on the Baystar hydraulic cylinder? Mine seem to be so firmly attached that I fear ruining them by trying to remove them. Nothing is said about them in the Baystar manual.

Gratefully,

Richard on TK Grand
 
Richard--
The plastic caps will come off if you just twist and pull. They are not threaded. May need a pliers, but put a rag around them just to protect them a little. Hope things have gone well for you since our cruise of the Apostles.

Gary on "Winyah"
 
Richard - the black plastic covers on the bleeder nipples are just there to keep things clean. The rod or ram moves port or starboard thru the cylinder to turn the engine. Go on line to Teleflex Canada. They will tell you everything you need to know about the Baystar system.

John
 
John & Gary,

Thanks to both of you for your help. After work today I got the bleeder caps off but thoroughly destroyed them in the process. They were definately on there to stay! Got the air out of the system but still seem to have quite a bit of air trapped in the autopilot pump. Oh well.

Gary, good to hear from you. I'm planning a few days in the Apostles this summer, probably in late June. Hoping I can get my wife to come along this time. She wants to but doesn't have the work flexibility that I do, so we'll see. Perhaps we will get the chance to cross paths with you.

Take care,

Richard on TK Grand
 
I have the BayStar system on C-Doggie. I want to bleed the system, but can't find/lost my instruction manual. Does anyone have a link to an online version? Thanks.
 
Before adding SeaStar fluid, make sure it is SeaStar fluid in your system, mine has ATF installed by the dealer. Not recommended. But you can NOT mix SeaStar with ATF. I have a brand new quart of SeaStar hydraulic fluid ($$$) standing by in case I ever completely refresh the system. :|
 
Al, I believe you have the Sea Star system on the C Doggie........Its a different system than the Baystar. I should say on the helm pump.
Marc
 
I'm just reading this thread now, and I may be completely off base, but I did notice something that Peter wrote that strikes me that this may not be completely confined to the power-steering system.

Peter wrote that turning left is more difficult.

Assuming that he has a clockwise spinning propeller, could it simply be that his torque tab anode has eroded to the point that it is no longer providing the correction that it should?

I would think that a power-steering issue would affect turning in both directions.

Just a thought...
 
Al,

Should it turn out that you do have the BayStar rather than the SeaStar, let me know. I should have the manual for the Baystar unit that came on my 22 and I can easily scan it for you.

Richard on TK Grand
 
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