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Installed SeaStar Teleflex Hydraulic Steering (single station front mount) on 18' Whaler Outrage in June/1997 on Yamaha 115 with NO problems (aside from purging system a couple times - last being a couple months ago) until yesterday, 9/13/2011.
While at dock noticed MUCH play (couple turns) turning wheel to starboard (clockwise), then turned wheel back to full port (where engine remains) and absolutely NO response back to starboard as wheel turns Freely & Continuosly. Can NOT turn at all to port (counter clockwise).
Checked fluid level at Helm and only able to add a few drops of hydraulic fluid to top off. Found NO visible leaks on hose connections at Helm or front mount Piston with hoses appearing to be in GOOD condition with No kinking. (unknown under deck in molded channel, but can not imagine a problem there).
Any ideas or suggestions??
Thanks to All.

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Our Seastar system, which is a couple of years older, is experiencing similar symptoms. From reading on the thehulltruth, it appears this is not uncommon - the fluid gets contaminated and one or more valves get stuck. The solution is to clean and / or rebuild the helm pump. That's going to be a winter task for me, and it's 50/50 whether I'll be able to get from the mooring to the ramp without a tow.

Tim

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Thanks for your reply.
When I purged system a couple of months ago I went through the process Several times each side and used new fluid and also filtered all fluid before re-entering the helm.
Don't know what the 'inside' of the helm looks like, i.e. seals/valves/gaskets etc., but after all the trouble shooting I also think it could be an issue with the helm, just don't know what!

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I have had the Seastar steering on my GW for years with no problems.

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I'm happy for ya!

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I had a friend that replaced his helm for the same thing. But not that new. I would try to get on the phone with costumer support and see if they will help you out on the helm replacement. Think of the helm as a pump tit pumps as you turn the wheel. Those little valves work a lot but usually last quite a while.

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Sounds like a bad/stuck check valve. There are two of them in the helm.

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Your new here. Don't get smart. Maybe you hooked it up wrong. I have never had to address my seastar steering since the installation.

You won't get good feedback with your attitude. Just saying.

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'FEED BACK' is certainly appreciated, this site is used by Whaler and other boat owners to Share information, Seek & Offer Ideas, Knowledge & Advice and maybe just enjoy nautical know how. YOU seem to offer NONE of that. 'Lecturing' doesn't appear to fit here. Some people seem to look to get offended, you sound like one of them.
"Hooked it up wrong", I don't believe it would have operating just fine for over 11 years if it was "hooked up wrong"!

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nbhs66,

I think I would try and contact Teleflex support and see if they can shed some light.
It might be that the helm unit needs to be rebuilt.

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Nice!!

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nhb, I confess to having misread your original post and now understand your system is much older than ours. Our Seastar has gone belly up after only 6 years, and it has been misbehaving in cold weather for the last 3 of those - I'd have been relatively happy with 11. I am none too pleased with the service life we have experienced from what's supposed to be a sealed hydraulic system. From the research I did, both our problems sound like stuck check valves, and I think a rebuild of the head unit is needed. If everything goes OK, I will be removing ours from the boat this weekend, but the actual rebuild will have to wait until I have more time.

I'm pretty sure ours is installed OK too:-).


Tim

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I was stating that I have never had a problem. I have never needed to bleed my system either since the install. I also have never known anyone to have this problem and I know many people with the Seastar steering. My unit is 5 years old. That's all.

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The internals of the helm (its just a pump) are very susceptible to small bits of debris. I've helped others rebuild their helms and their units have always had a sludgy residue. I've been told its usually the result of moisture contamination.

If a system has ever had to be topped off or re-bled, it isn't properly sealed and possibly subject to moisture contamination.

My oldest hydraulic steering system is a 97 and its been trouble-free like my other two boats though they're steering systems are newer.

Teleflex isn't real DIY re-build friendly with their helms. They recommend taking it to a qualified service center since a mistake could have some potentially serious consequences. Rebuild kits are available (o-rings and gaskets) but specific how-to info isn't so easy to locate. At least when I tried it wasn't.

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Thanks Johnny! I have found a few threads on another forum - here's one: http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-f...-pics.html.

I'l probably give it a try over the winter, but maybe, based on your advice, I'll check out the price at a rebuild center first.

Tim

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If a system has ever had to be topped off or re-bled, it isn't properly sealed and possibly subject to moisture contamination.

Exactly my point.