bglz42

Culprit found! I removed the filter completely, and I now have power assist! I had previously cleaned the bronze filter element, but I guess it's just too clogged. I'm ordering a two new ones from Teague today. Thanks for all the help!

Jim

Reckless32

Where is the filter located?

bglz42

See the silver aluminum canister on the transom, starboard side? That's it!

Thunder32

how often should you clean or replace the filter??

bglz42

I'll be cleaning or changing mine every two oil changes or so...

I don't know the recommended sevice interval. Anyone?

bglz42

OOPS! Still have the problem! Ran the boat today, with and without new filter. Results the same...

Here's the symptoms:

Start the boat.
Turn the wheel lock to lock, very nice and free, no vibration, a 1 on a 10 scale in effort.
Second lock to lock, a little vibration, getting harder, 3 on a ten scale.
Third and subsequent turns lock to lock, very hard, 8 or 9 on a ten scale.
Kill the engine. Let it sit for a minute.
Same as above, at first it turns easy, then gets very hard.

When I looked into the reservoir as my buddy turned the wheel: first turn, I saw lots of fluid moving and the level dropped about an eighth of an inch then came back up. Next turns, NOTHING! Looked like a pool in there, no movement. Weird!

Somehow it's building pressure, but not releasing. When I kill the motor, and sit for a while it releases the pressure.

Any ideas??

bglz42

Could a restriction in the low pressure return to the reservoir cause this? The low pressure return runs through a cooler before returning. Could this be clogged?

Von Bongo

Do you have a seperate resevoir for the PS fluid or are you using only what is held in the PS pump?

My single ram system worked fine on the PS but my dual ram system has a seperate resevoir and as I have followed Hydraulic steering threads it seems people with dual systems and no extra resevoir seem to have harder steering.

When you turn it does fluid flow from one ram and not the other? If there is a blockage that might help you idenify which side it is on. IE turn right fine, left no fluid comes back. The left ram is compressing but no fluid is moving back into the resevoir.

Also on a dual ram system one side always has to be under pressure when turned so maybe after you turn it lock to lock you have moved fluid out of the resevoir to presurize the system but no excess capacity. When you let it set the pressure drains off and refillls the PS resevoir.

Maybe after you run it and it drains down have someone pour more fluid in and see if it works but when the pressure bleeds off it will puke out so be read for that.

bglz42

Thanks Von Bongo! The fluid in the reservoir barely moves, even turning the steering lock to lock. I see movement in the fluid, (a little), on the first revolutions. Then after the pressure builds, nothing. I think it's got to be a return line issue.

Mr Gadgets

I have been told that some hoses will colapse when put under pressure. The inner liner will get fluid on the outside of it.. between the inner and outer.. Drawing at straws here, but maybe what's going on. Hook a hose to the return line and put it in a can.. see if it pukes fluid.. Not sure how much pressure is there, so be careful..

Good luck
Dick