Frozen hydraulic steering

[Tony Meola]

Finally uncovered the boat today and found my steering frozen. I can force the wheel to move about two inches but when it moves it feels like something is slipping. So the question is helm or ram and how to diagnosis?

Do I need to start by opening the bleeder valves to see if the wheel will turn? Then does that tell me that the ram is frozen?

[Pete Fallon]

Tony M,
What kind of unit do you have Hynautic by Teleflex with tank and gage or a closed system without a tank. Usually low fluid with be the cause or there is a leak in one of your lines or the ram has frozen up check for crud at the ram exit.
Pete Fallon

[Tony Meola]

Pete.

Closed system no tank.

I looked for leaks but did not see any stains. Weather is changing up here so I will open the bleeder valves next weekend and see what I get. If empty then then I will search further for a leak.

The ram was clean. It was good when I layed the boat up.

I normally spray it down with CD and wipe it clean especially when I lay her up for the winter.

[Fishin Tom]

Hi Tony

Just checking but did you disconnect the Ram from the Rudder Tie bar and determine the rudders are free moving? Then you can also operate the hydraulic side without any load against it.

Tom Oakes
Holtz Boatworks
So. Jersey

[Tony Meola]

Tom

I did not. I will give that a try on Saturday.

I hope you are still in Florida. It is absolutely nasty up here in NJ. Blowing close to 30 out of the NE and pouring rain at 40 degrees.

[Fishin Tom]

Wish I was in Stuart right now, weather is perfect and fish r snapping when the wind doesn't keep us inshore.

Jersey at springtime is BRUTAL for 2018. Looking forward to HOT. sweaty, and bag of bugs thrown in for good measure. Tom Oakes

[Fishin Tom]

Tony-
Did you ever find out why your steering was frozen??

Tom Oakes
Holtz Boatworks, South Jersey USA

[Tony Meola]

Tom

Yes Thank You for asking.

The Ram is frozen. Just ordered a new one. I am puzzled since I am told that virtually never happens. When I get a chance I am going to have to take it apart and see what caused it to freeze up.

No matter what I do, it will not budge.

[Carl]

I am puzzled since I am told that virtually never happens.

LOL, that sounds like my life...

I cannot tell you how many times I have had to place a call into tech department for my machines and get a "really, huh...never heard that before".
Or the even better, "no that can't happen". Well sure as Sh$t it can and did, come take a look for yourself.


Not much on a cylinder to bind up...
scored rod in alum housing?
Seals tore and wedged between plunger and bore...
Garbage blocking fluid passage...

Have seen a person tighten bleed fitting into the plunger.

Curious myself as to whats locking it up after sitting.

[Tony Meola]

Carl

I am going to bet that since it worked great for 9 years that seal jammed up in there some how. The rod is clean. No build up no scoring that I can see. I kept it wiped down with CX. Unless I found something the CX does not agree with.