1979 43 dc steering issue

[Canuck Dennis]

Manual steering just quit..wheel spins free both helms, tank is full of fluid, autopilot works fine...any clues ???

 

[eze2bme]

You might have an air leak. Do you have pressure on the reservoir?

Manual steering just quit..wheel spins free both helms, tank is full of fluid, autopilot works fine...any clues ???

 

[Finalee]

Is the autopilot perhaps stuck in the on position?

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Np [pressure in reservoir

 

[spartonboat1]

Manual indicates should be 30#'s psi in sys and fluid 3inches from top of resovoir. Can be pumped up to 30 #'s but may be leak at head in the upper helm evidenced by fluid under the head.

 

[rsmith]

Air in the system. The autopilots pump is probably lower than the helms. Crack a fitting at the highest helm and bleed

 

[saltshaker]

Np [pressure in reservoir

Start looking for a leak above the level of the reservoir. If you don't find an oil leak, I'd pump it up and look again. If there is air in the system it came from a leak unless you recently had something apart. You may have a bad seal on the resevoir if everything else seems fine.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Added 30 # and system back to normal...will be checking continually to see if I can the leak.

Thanks again for all the input ....

 

[Robby]

Manual steering just quit..wheel spins free both helms, tank is full of fluid, autopilot works fine...any clues ???

We went thru this .You might have a bad stearing ram.We had ours rebuilt for less than $200 here in Mobile.If it wont bleed that's probably what it is.

 

[eze2bme]

Check the steering pumps at each wheel. In the past my upper helm seals have had to be rebuilt as well as the lower helm.
The upper helm pump is easy to inspect as you can just open the "door" under the wheel. And if this pump is leaking you'll see red fluid leaking out under the door as it is sloped.
The lower helm pump is inspected by removing the teak panel inside the cabin. If his pump is leaking the only way you'll know is by looking inside behind the teak panel.
If the seals are bad you might also see red fluid leaking at the wheel shaft, easy to spot at the lower helm but at the upper helm it runs back inside the helm station and drips on the access door.
Just a few thoughts.