hydrolic steering question

[race#115]

i have a sleekcraft with a 235 and the steering seems to slip or ratchet some times ,i dont think this is a good sign i dont know what system it is but it has a screw on the top of the helm if that helps.

[Rickracer]

There will always be a certain amount of hydraulic "slip". That is why Teleflex recommends a wheel with equidistant spokes. If it is jerky, then you may have some issues with air pockets, but if it just doesn't always return to "center", that is normal. :cool:

[race#115]

the best way to describe it is when i was trying to correct it from pulling right the wheelslipped , turned and made a ratchet sound but the motor didnt turn. The guy i bought it from said it's normal but it sure doesnt seem right and my friend just finished a merc course and he said they told him that hydrolic is the only way to go for a over 150hp and 60 mph but that noise scares the crap out of me.

[ncst8er]

Your description of a "ratchet sound" makes me wonder if it's been bled properly to remove any air from the system. I don't have hydraulic myself (yet), but everything I've seen says that proper bleeding is critical and can be time consuming to get it really right.

[BarryStrawn]

Does it make the noise when you start a right turn under load? When you turn the wheel right while the engine torque is also trying to turn right, the check valve will chatter as it rapidly seats and releases. You turn the wheel and it unseats the valve, then the engine torque causes a runaway and the check valve seats, and the cycle continues at a high frequency. Teleflex has a tech bulletin about it.

[Rickracer]

Chatter (noise originating in helm pump)
Chatter: The nature of the beast of hydraulics and common on some single, usually but not always, high horsepower applications. It is generally caused by the position of the skeg, how the boat is rigged and the overall geometry of the boat combined with the general efficiency of the pump. The NOISE will occur when the operator is attempting to turn in the same direction as the engine torque is trying to steer the boat. This will cause momentary runaway, which slams the check shut until pressure rebuilds to open. This sequence takes place hundreds of times a second, hence the chatter noise.

I have to admit, this is the first I have heard of a problem like this.

[race#115]

that might make sense because the torque tab is missing off my skeg (where can i buy one ?) and it only did it when it was pulling and i was trying to correct it it did feel like it slipped .so maybe if i get the torque tab fixed it will be ok.it also only did it with my 4 blade 26p prop on when i put the 28p ron hill prop it didnt seem to pull as bad.