Steering on 28 w/jackshafts

[hammerhead]

Hello guys, posted a message a couple of weeks ago about sloppy steering, well I have checked the outdrives and all is well, Problem I see is when i turn the wheel about 3/4 's way around the steering doesnt respond. I checked the fluid its ok and the pressure is good, any thoughts? I guess this is why when I go off course it takes three times around to straighten her out. Thanks again Harry (second owner of boat and I dont have the manual of this system)

[Split Decision]

I had the same symptoms on my 32 before the steering quit comming in from offshore. You have air in the system. There is not much reserve in the seastar system. Just the helm itself. Do you have the fill hose that screws into the helm and onto the bottletop? If you do, put it on the top helm and hold the bottle upside down and turn the wheel back and forth. You will see bubbles comming out. When you turn the wheel all the way to one side,try turning more to work the pressure valve in the helm. You will need to lean into it some but when you turn the wheel back you will see bubbles in the line. Repeat untill no more bubbles appear.

[Hey Doc]

Loose steering

I had the same problem on my 1999 28 with jackshafts. I did the same technique as Split Dec. suggested and it cleared things up temporarily. I actually had a system leak at the seastar cylinder. You may want to trouble shoot your system to find out where the air is coming from. Otherwise, you may end up loosing your steering while you are on a trip.

[capthorace]

Don't have a sea star system

Mine are Hynautic but I have the same sloppy steering on my 1995. Any suggestions?

[Bullish]

I would like to know where I can get what Tom describes as a tool to refill steering fluid and purge the system of air:

Tom asked above, "Do you have the fill hose that screws into the helm and onto the bottletop?"

This is one of things that sounds like a good idea to have on board if you lose your steering 80 miles offshore. I'm fairly sure (with my luck) I'll have this problem at some point if I don't keep one on board.

Please let me know where I can get one of these. Thank you.

[Split Decision]

You can get one from seastar. They sent one with the new ram and quart of fluid when I replaced it back in october.

[Bullish]

Thanks Tom. How did you get in from offshore when you lost your steering?

[Split Decision]

At the time I thought the system was just low but later found the ram was leaking. Just refilled the system and was good to go and later changed out the ram. A loss of 3-4 oz is enough to lose steering. If you had a bad leak, you could use that hose and hook it to the top helm and tape the bottle up side down to the wheel and it would keep the system full. At least till you ran out of fluid.