Steering helm leaking

Johnscubanut · 31 October 2012, 14:46

Hi guys, we have a 'Seastar' hydraulic steering system fitted to our dive boat. It dribbles out oil frequently at the helm. I guess its one of the seals gone inside? We keep topping it up!
Anyone know of a kit to repair or is it a case of complete replacement at a cost of many hundreds of pounds?
Thanks-John

thomas · 31 October 2012, 15:08

Contact Bainbridge Marine they're a UK distributor, I got a part for my Baystar unit from them.

mick · 31 October 2012, 15:35

These guys are agents as well you can get a seal kit but make sure you can get your steering wheel off 1st http://www.hypromarine.com/index.aspx

Johnscubanut · 31 October 2012, 15:49

Thanks for that guys, I'll give them a call!

Johnscubanut · 31 October 2012, 16:09

Good news guys. Hypro will strip down, replace seals & test helm for between 100-150quid! Now just got to get the helm off? LOL Thanks for that info.

mick · 31 October 2012, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Good news guys. Hypro will strip down, replace seals & test helm for between 100-150quid! Now just got to get the helm off? LOL Thanks for that info.

Great that's what I am going to do with mine this winter prob have to let them get my wheel off though as its corroded on solid.

C2 RIBS · 31 October 2012, 17:05

As micks says the Hypro build are great if you are near Lymington, they build and also strip. Just one other area , if it leaks from the top fill up hole then carefully unscrew and release probably an air build up. Same happened to one of mine and that is all it was

Johnscubanut · 31 October 2012, 23:24

Thanks Ian, but its def not from the filler cap hole, but somewhere at the base of the helm. I guess it is a seal gone somewhere? Cheers!

Chris · 31 October 2012, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Thanks Ian, but its def not from the filler cap hole, but somewhere at the base of the helm. I guess it is a seal gone somewhere? Cheers!

I am dealing with a similar issue, if you remove the steering wheel there is a plate held on by three screws. Behind this plate is a rubber seal that can be quite easily replaced. It might be worth trying this yourself before a full rebuild...

Chris

Smithyyy · 01 November 2012, 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Thanks Ian, but its def not from the filler cap hole, but somewhere at the base of the helm. I guess it is a seal gone somewhere? Cheers!

Just one thought, and you've probably already got this covered off but it couldn't be coming from the hose fittings could it? I found hydraulic fluid in my battery compartment (under the jockey behind the helm's), eventually worked out it was coming from the threads on the hose fitting on the back of the helm and running all the way down the hose from there, under the helm's jockey, and finally dropping off the hose after that. Tenacious stuff and very hard to work out where it was coming from! But once located the leak was easily fixed with some of the right thread sealant....

jyasaki · 01 November 2012, 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Good news guys. Hypro will strip down, replace seals & test helm for between 100-150quid! Now just got to get the helm off? LOL Thanks for that info.

Hmmm. Helm seal is a 6$ US part. Figure a 3 pounds.

Remove steering wheel, remove plate from the fromt, pick out seal, install new seal, and reassemble.

About the only other place it could leak are the hose fittings.

jky

biffer · 01 November 2012, 07:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Good news guys. Hypro will strip down, replace seals & test helm for between 100-150quid! Now just got to get the helm off? LOL Thanks for that info.

Nice hourly rate for 10 minutes work

Johnscubanut · 01 November 2012, 19:08

Thanks for that info guys, I'll try & see if its just the seal behind the plate? Its def not from the hoses as no oil inside the console! Cheers!

Erin · 01 November 2012, 21:41

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but if you overfill the reservoir then the oil can get expelled out the vent hole in the cap. This will then dribble down the helm pump and make it appear to be leaking from the bottom. Really is worth making sure this is not the case before paying for new seals. The rule of thumb is to fill the reservoir to no more than half an inch from the top.

Johnscubanut · 02 November 2012, 00:03

Thats just what we thought at first. So we didn't top-up fluid level for a couple of trips. It still carried on leaking from well below the filler point at around the base! Ho-hum!