Loss of steering at the lower helm

[Sadey]

Went to use Benedetto the other day and had no steering at the pilot house helm. Fly bridge worked as advertised as well as the A/P. It’s hard to tell the fluid level in the reservoir but it might be low. There is less then 10psi on the gauge so there’s that as well. What’s weird is, no extra fluid visible were it shouldn’t be and why is the upper helm working instead of visa versa?

Side note: while I was cleaning the upper helm I must have bumped the A/P on. Took me a while to realize the noise I thought was somebody else’s boat was actually my A/P pump working away. Obviously I turned it off until we needed it enroute. All this shortly before I discovered the complete lack of steering south.

Thoughts besides add fluid and pressure?

[Pascal]

You can try but typically if the system is low on fluid or air, the upper helm is the first one to go.

Top it off and then bleed both helms by turning until you get a stop then the other way till opposite lock.

[SEVEN]

PSI should be 25 lbs.

[eze2bme]

Did you check for fluid leak at the AP ram?

[Sadey]

I didn't think to check the ram because the auto pilot was working properly.

[Freeebird]

Wouldn’t think a ram leak would affect only the lower station. As we discussed, I’ve lost steering from top to bottom via a near ram leak, and the AP was the only thing that halfway worked toward the end. I’m no expert, but losing that lower station and still having the upper baffles me. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what turns out to be the culprit.