Hydraulic steering

[RichardinNZ]

I've never owned or used a boat with hydraulic steering before. When moving my wheel there is a lag/slack before the movement translates into the engine moving. Is this usual or should it be immediate?

I've not checked the fluid, so that will be on my ever-lengthening list of things to do once I finish my DIY at home and move on to getting the boat ready for Christmas (my wife has even suggested we head out on Boxing Day which is a first....although remember that will be summer here...).

So far the list consists of changing the oil in the lower unit, rebuilding the water pump, changing the thermostats (all following a run back in at low tide and the hot light coming on numerous times during our next trip out), new spark plugs, get the gauges working, change the fuel water separating filter for one with a drain, drain and inspect the fuel tank and fit new LED lights to the trailer ahead of its Warrant of Fitness (yes, those of you in the UK have one less thing to worry about...trailers here are registered in their own right, have a yearly warrant of fitness/MoT and pay their own road tax).

[beerbelly]

yes mate iv always found a small amount of free play with hydraulic steering its not immediate like a car its not really noticeable once under way tho

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks...puts my mind at rest.

[Simonh66]

I have the same boat as Beerbelly & have a little play

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks for confirming.

[boristhebold]

The delay/slack issue depends how much, on mine there isnt much delay or slack at all, to be honest ive probably got more slack on the steering in my landrover defender LOL. On your boat your may have a knob on top of the steering boss, undo the knob and with a small funnel pour in some hydraulic fluid, tighten and turn steering wheel a few times left and right then re-open and top up. If lots of slack/delay you may have some air blockage somewhere.

See if you can compare with some other peoples steering, its hard to say here if you have too much slack.

[Phil M]

How much does the engine move if you try to turn it by hand? More than a degree or two may indicate air in the system. For full peace of mind you can bleed the system. There should be bleed points where the hoses connect to the engine cylinder. Stick a tube on these, loosen them (one at a time) and turn the wheel. If there are no bubbles in the fluid that comes out, all is well. You will need to add more oil to the help if you do this though, to replace that bled out.

Phil M

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try that soon and see how I get on. Do you have to feed in at the helm at the same time as bleeding?

Thanks

[Jeff]

You need to ensure you keep the helm full whilst bleeding,,, otherwise you simply draw air into the system and make it worse. Usually, you have a full bottle of fluid with a hole in the top) connected to the fill hole via a tube and thread adaptor... keep it topped up. Definitely a 2 man job ... whoops, person job [emoji6]

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks. I thought that might be the case....