Seastar steering helm lumpy

[redthunder]

My Seastar helm has got quite heavy and lumpy when turning. It has done about 500 hours of choppy sea ribing with 225 honda on the back. so has been worked. Do parts wear out on these and can they be repaired. Or is it a replace only option?

[jyasaki]

Lumpy usually means air in the system, I think. You're feeling the bubbles being pumped through the helm. Could be the heaviness as well, as you've got to compress the air bubbles before any kind of mechanical effect takes place.

Bleeding isn't really tough to do, but it's kind of a PITA. Easier with 2 people, but doable with 1. Just make sure you keep the reservoir topped off and don't defeat the purpose by sucking more air into the lines.

Of course that leaves the question as to how the air got in; letting the level fall too low is the obvious one, but a leak somewhere further along the system is possible.

A web search for "Sea Star Bleeding" wiill get you directions for bleeding.

Luck;

jky

[Xcraft]

maybe new oil will help.

[Cookee]

You may have rusty balls! It needs stripping and servicing with new oil and seals.............

[willk]

I think this system has been swapped between boats recently? Probably air.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by willk

I think this system has been swapped between boats recently? Probably air.

In my experience air means it has too much free play ............

[willk]

Originally Posted by Cookee

In my experience air means it has too much free play ............

Fair 'nuff, youth must defer to Experience

However, he has just swapped the unit between boats. It worked on boat 1, not boat 2...

The same type of kit on the same type of boat once gave me notchy or lumpy steering - turned out the reservoir was low. Maybe one to check too.

[Tim M]

Top up the oil, bet that's the trouble.