Seastar Hydraulic Cylinder Repair

Bringing this one back to life, as I think I need to replace my seals. I know there is a more recent thread:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=25817

but this one seems to have a little more information. I have the SeaStar HC5345 steering ram. Every winter I notice just a bit more leakage coming from the starboard ram seal. So far this winter, after putting the boat away in early November, and with a week or two of bitterly cold winter, I have about a tablespoon or two of hydraulic fluid pooled under the starboard ram seal. So think it's time to replace those seals. I've read thru this thread, and the one above, and sounds like it's an easy enough job to do. I'm sure there are some hydraulic shops here in Madison, Wi, that could replace those seals easy enuf, but I pulled some part numbers off on this or the other thread (wiper HW-0750N and Seal DPU 12-0.75-12) and I might see if I can order those on my own first. The question is, will I have some warm enough weather between now and the St. John's gathering in order to do the work, or just wait until after that gathering, and do it before the Friday Harbor gathering. For those of you that have done this job, for the first time, is this pretty quick and easy, or a job that could easily turn into more? And any other advice/suggestions than what's already been posted in these two threads? Thanks. Colby
 
Just want to remind you that I did NOT replace the seals. I elected to replace the entire cylinder. My ram had scratches and pitting (very mild, almost invisible) that, I was assured, were just going to chew at the new seal and cause it to fail early. So examine your ram closely. If it feels anything other than totally smooth, without any texture at all, consider replacing the whole assembly.
 
I did check the ram and did not feel any nicks or burrs. I only get the leak in very cold weather (during the winter), so figure it is just the seals. I can order the kit, HS5157 for just under $90, and that looks like it includes the end caps with the seals already installed. I may just do that this time around. The other option, is to pull the hydraulic lines off and try to plug them right away, then pull the caps with the seals off the piston, stuff some rags in the piston to protect it, then get the caps up to a hydraulic shop to repair them. Just feel like it might be easier to order the kit, install those, then repair the original caps with some new seals and keep those for next time. My problem now, is I don't have a warm shop to work in, and we're in the midwest winter now. So if I do get a warm day to work outside on the boat, it's just better to have everything I need right there to immediately swap stuff out, get it back together and rebleed the lines.

The last option would be just leave it alone, add more fluid when I pull it out in March, and then work on it when I have some downtime with it this summer. While I get a little "moisture" of fluid around it during the summer, the leak pretty much stops. However, the little pool it's produced over the last month or so, is quite a bit more than last winter. So unless it's just because of the bitter cold we had, I think it's probably getting worse. Colby
 
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