Spongey Steering

[Mbryant]

Hi - having some problems with the hydraulic steering on my RIB.

Every now and again I had steering fluid leaking out of the seal behind the steering wheel, at first I though this was the rubber washer so replaced that but it still leaked (although a little less.) I had the steering checked over when the engine was in for a service but nothing came up. Though a month or so after I'm getting leakage.

So the question is......any idea what could be causing this and/or how can it be fixed??


Matt

[Top banana]

im having exactly the same problem. went to the boat and there was steering fluid running down the helm. put it down to the hot weather expanding the oil, or air in the system.
so i will be bleeding the system through this week. last time out i did notice the steering was stiff to port.

[Bigmuz7]

Last leaky one I had, it was coming out of the steering shaft going into the box, but it didnt make the system 'spongy', in hydraulics .. thats a sign of air in the system, or the wrong type of oil (less likely).. there is a bleed proceedure to expell all the air, most open circuit systems do it automatically, but I have learned that outboard systems need to be purged of air to work properly . It involves cycling the steering fully one way and draining the excess, then back the other and repeating the process, then topping up the reservoir.

If that doesnt work then either the helm pump isnt generating enough pressure or your steering ram is allowing oil to bypass in the steering cylinder meaning the actuating pump(helm) needs more revolutions to effect the same amount of steerage

[Mbryant]

Cheers Bigmuz, I'll try that out and hopfully it will solve the problem!!!

[RJH]

Originally Posted by Top banana

im having exactly the same problem. went to the boat and there was steering fluid running down the helm. put it down to the hot weather expanding the oil, or air in the system.
so i will be bleeding the system through this week. last time out i did notice the steering was stiff to port.

Likewise, am not impressed with the hydraulic steering on my boat. Spotted some minor leakage at the ram end and is being investigated but generally has always been very heavy. Have considered uprating to "power" steering bit am told it can make it too easy and can result in heavy wear on steering bolts conecting to the engine. How does one know if the hydraulic steering is operating correctly as have nothing to compare to?

[Mbryant]

The symptom I get is very loose steering - sometime 4 or 5 wheel turns from straight to full lock, you guys seem to be suffering from heavier steering though same leakage

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by RJH

Likewise, am not impressed with the hydraulic steering on my boat. Spotted some minor leakage at the ram end and is being investigated but generally has always been very heavy. Have considered uprating to "power" steering bit am told it can make it too easy and can result in heavy wear on steering bolts conecting to the engine. How does one know if the hydraulic steering is operating correctly as have nothing to compare to?

How many turns lock to lock is it?

Mine is about 6 turns - makes the steering fairly light but it's like turning a destroyer. You can get pumps which will give you say 4 turns but then it's a bit heavier. I would much rather have heavier but quicker steering.

I wish they would pay more attention to this on fast boats - it really lets the side down. The Alfas I have driven have been 2.2 turns - much more sporty!!!

[codprawn]

I have air in my system - about to bleed it. The steering is very "notchy" and jerky - I assume those are the symptoms with most makes.

The bleeding process needs lots of oil on mine - 2.5 litres. Basically you open a valve on the end of the ram - keep adding oil and spin the wheel pretty fast - it's a 3 man job.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I have air in my system - about to bleed it. The steering is very "notchy" and jerky - I assume those are the symptoms with most makes.

The bleeding process needs lots of oil on mine - 2.5 litres. Basically you open a valve on the end of the ram - keep adding oil and spin the wheel pretty fast - it's a 3 man job.

What make of steering is it ?

[Pete7]

[QUOTE=Mbryant;So the question is......any idea what could be causing this and/or how can it be fixed?? Matt [/QUOTE]

It is leaking due to hot weather. Presumably your pump is black which will heat up nicely during the day and the oil then finds the weakest link in the system, in your case the seal behind the wheel,

Solution, never found one, just made sure the resevoir is full each morning. There was a nasty accident on Lough Lomond a couple of years ago caused because no one check the fluid level and the steering failed.

Pete