Power purge vs do it yourself

**XstreamVking** · 02-13-2018, 02:55 PM

Brought that up in post 21 Constant turning of the wheel is not air....

**roadkill636** · 02-13-2018, 03:00 PM

Not constantly turning the wheel around and around. Ment with that much slop in the ram movement it takes that much more to move the wheel back and forth when getting thru chinewalk..

Bought the helm new about 3 years ago. Ebay. But just installed it last summer for the 1st time

**phillnjack** · 02-14-2018, 10:08 AM

So it seems that you have an air leak problem in the helm unit then. its going to be a simple O-ring or seal.
you have nothing to lose so take it apart and see if you can find the problem.
DO NOT USE IT like it as that is dangerous and could very easily get you killed,
it could even be a simple bit of dirt got in there causing a issue with a seal.

once you have it apart youl see what needs to be replaced, probably a simple gasket/ seal/ O-ting.
by the way you should not be touching the relief valve to bleed the system, no reason for that to be touched.
But if you have had the relief out did you see the ball bearing ? ( if the uflex has one ?)
are all the thread fittings on the rear covered in a sealant ?

Most of todays problems with the hydraulic steering is the cheap way the rams are being built. not normally a helm problem.
compare these two below for an example, one new style ram and my old 30 plus year old Morse C3000 OB ram.
New one has single O-ring in a plastic centre and 2 seals at each end, mine has 2 seals in the steel centre and 3 seals each end.
thats the difference with new stuff, my old system was rated to 300hp when it came out, yet we didn't even have 300hp outboards
kicking around back then... and my old unit has ZERO free play at the ram and none at the steering wheel. its very precise.
only movement I have is the sloppy top engine mount ( already made a solid just needs to be fitted).
.

**roadkill636** · 02-14-2018, 11:02 AM

Have not had the helm apart. What im calling tge RELIEF VALVE is what feels to be opening up once it turn the wheel past lock to open and relieve the pressure set at 1000 psi.

**phillnjack** · 02-14-2018, 01:02 PM

yes I know what you mean, but you should not have to touch that. and without going realy mental on the wheel the relief should not open.
these only normally open if you have an inboard boat with the rudder sititng on the bottom of river/sea and tide moves the rudder. .
Maybe one of the seals in there has gone ??? when seal go they often look perfect to the eye, I would look around and see if there is a
seal kit for your helm and do the lot.
its nothing special to re-seal. youl be amazed how simple they are inside.

turning the wheel left and right should actually self bleed the helm unit, something is definitely leaking air in there, I bet its a tiny seal.
if you take it apart you can just go to an hydraulics shop and they will sort you out some good quality seals.

But no way would I trust that without new seals, and make sure you put the correct sealant on all the fittings behind the helm unit.

**gfinch** · 02-14-2018, 10:57 PM

When you are bleeding the system how fast do you turn the wheel?
What I notice is if I turn too fast(rpm) I can feel what I'd describe as a catch and release. I feel this is cavitation. I try to keep below this rpm. Butt, if the fluid isn't moved quickly enough I believe there can be bubbles that arn't moved along/pushed out of the system. Fluid must be allowed to rest...gas off.
In other words $100 is cheep insurance.

Having an Allison there is as little slack as possible.

When the first Sea Star system first came out I was blessed to be one that took it off and sent it back. It DID'nt like prop torque. You could continually slowly turn the steering wheel against the torque. The nasty thing was turning the other way....If you input a very slight correction... like lining up on a buoy, it would Hook. About a year or so later they reached out and asked very in legalese if I would accept a new unit. I did, it was a nice unit. What I had expected in the first place.

**CircleHook** · 02-16-2018, 10:23 AM

New to me 2007 150 efi with Seastar- on pleasure boat @ sub 50 mph- I have Not run it on water- messing around with it I noticed about 1.5" wiggle at back of motor- which is 0.50" at Seastar ram - notes in this thread say "1/4" acceptable- where is that being measured ? at ram? or back side engine?

**vnemous** · 02-16-2018, 10:30 AM

Measured side to side at the piston. Remember if you got rubber mounts the motor will be exaggerated. Most of us with high performance motors are running solid mounts and we are looking for no play. JMO

**gfinch** · 02-16-2018, 01:07 PM

Just an observation picture 20180211_175742.jpg is of the engine with ram. The bleed fittings are pointing down, should be at least level or pointing up while bleeding. Those micro bubbles have to go and the fluid has to sit for a long time if using again.
Get this system power purged. Then if there is still a problem you'll know that a component is at fault.
I made holders for the rams shafts that are slipped on to hold them from moving.
Could be you got someones problem "off of e-bay"

**WillySteve** · 02-16-2018, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by CircleHook

New to me 2007 150 efi with Seastar- on pleasure boat @ sub 50 mph- I have Not run it on water- messing around with it I noticed about 1.5" wiggle at back of motor- which is 0.50" at Seastar ram - notes in this thread say "1/4" acceptable- where is that being measured ? at ram? or back side engine?

That is measured basically on how far the shaft, (piston), moves in and out of the cylinder barrel! 1/4" or less is good!

**phillnjack** · 02-19-2018, 01:52 PM

gfinch... you are dead right the bleeders should be uppermost...

**roadkill636** · 02-19-2018, 02:07 PM

Yes. I agree. But. No air what si ever is comming into or leaving the ram. I can see it with the clear hoses. Somehow the helm is getting air. Every couple of days it is able to make about 6"-8" of air burping up into the filler hose when rocking the wherl up against the relief valve. Bubbles rise up out of the clear filler hose.

**roadkill636** · 02-19-2018, 02:12 PM

Im gunna take out the helm and re seal it

**roadkill636** · 02-20-2018, 01:31 PM

Disassembled the helm last nite. I found a check ball spring turned sideways in its lil holder. I cant imaging how it could have been knocked off of its perch upon taking it apart but cant imaging it working at all if it wasent pushing against the check ball. Cleaned all the parts and reassembled it and half arssed bleed it and got the ram movement down to about 1/2" on the cyl -ram. I will bleed more tonite or next couple days