HAS ANYONE HAD ANY SUCCESS PURGING OR BLEEDING THE SEASTAR STEERING SYSTEM.I WAS WONDERING THE BEST WAY TO DO IT ON A 1993 SAILFISH,THEY DON'T SELL THE PURGING KITS.I HAVE A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERIN AS WELL AS A LOT OF TIGHTNESS I'M TRYING TO GET RID OF.
purging the seastar steering system
- Thread starter SAILFISH252
- Start date
Hookup1
GreatGrady Captain
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Seastar steering.
It's actually pretty easy. You need the fill hose, fluid and a tack pin. Hook the hose to the steering wheel, put the bottle on, invert it and make a small hole in the bottom of the bottle with the pin. Use the pin to plug the hole later.
All you need to do is repeatedly turn the wheel slowly from one side all the way to the other and back. Probably 5 to 10 times. The air will bubble back thru the system and fill with fluid.
If you replaced the ram you would first bleed the system by opening the nut on the ram and turning the wheel until you get fluid. Repeat on the other side of the ram.
It's actually pretty easy. You need the fill hose, fluid and a tack pin. Hook the hose to the steering wheel, put the bottle on, invert it and make a small hole in the bottom of the bottle with the pin. Use the pin to plug the hole later.
All you need to do is repeatedly turn the wheel slowly from one side all the way to the other and back. Probably 5 to 10 times. The air will bubble back thru the system and fill with fluid.
If you replaced the ram you would first bleed the system by opening the nut on the ram and turning the wheel until you get fluid. Repeat on the other side of the ram.
Yuo can get the instructions off Sea Stars site if needed, the fill kit is only about $15, and a pin you likely have. If you still have play after just attaching and turning back and forth, you will need to then go to the hydraulic cylinder itself and release one of the relief valves, it is located above where the hoses attach likely, do one at a time and turn the whel that direction and keep doing so until fluid comes out, then do the same the other direction with the other valve. If still having play, there is another step where someone holds the cyclinder and engine in place as you turn the wheel and one of the valves is open. When you open the valves, you are just unscreweing it a very little bit. The directions on the Sea Star site are more informative and give more specifics, but it can be done fairly easily. I will be doing mine tommorrow actually since I added an AP and need to fill the new runs.
Here is the rig I made in order to not waste the whole $21 bottle of fluid and did not ruin the bottle.
It is made with a quick release air hose barb, a 3/8 inch air hose nipple, a short section of fuel line and a funnel that fit into the fuel hose. The pipe nipple threaded into the steering wheel pump/reservoir. You do need one person to make sure that the funnel has oil in it while you are purging. Just dumb luck that I had this stuff sitting around I guess.
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It is made with a quick release air hose barb, a 3/8 inch air hose nipple, a short section of fuel line and a funnel that fit into the fuel hose. The pipe nipple threaded into the steering wheel pump/reservoir. You do need one person to make sure that the funnel has oil in it while you are purging. Just dumb luck that I had this stuff sitting around I guess.
I recently replaced my seals and the lines that run from the copper tubing to the motor on mine. Filled it back up with transmission fluid, which is alot cheaper, and works just as good as the sea star fluid. Basically I just filled it up using the screw on adapter at the helm attached a bottle to it and tied the bottle to the top of the bimini so I would not have to hold it. Let the fluid drain in, ocassionally turning the motor. Jack the boat tongue way up so the helm was right much higher than the motor and let gravity do its work. Left the screw off at the helm for about three or fours days to let the air escape. Did not have a chance to test it before I went offshore a couple weeks ago. Still had a little air in it but work itself out after I lossened the nut at the helm.. Just using it will get the air out.