Don.....Seastar hyd. steering ram leaks

[Cyncwby]

Don, as the title says, 175 Pro Xs Merc...the starboard side seal is just barely seeping. I called my dealer and they said the repair kit is $190 and approx 3 hours labor @ $90 per. So I think I'm going to try it myself. Lots of info on the net on how to do it and it's easier with 2 guys. So just how hard is it and can you sell me the proper kit. My Sea Star unit has part number HC 5345...thanks, Dave

[EuropeanAM]

Dave:

We have them in stock.... and they're not THAT expensive.

Drop our parts department an email... and we'll get you set up (including the tool).

[Cyncwby]

Thanks pardner, I saw some kits on ebay ($95) but don't know if they are the correct part number for what I need. This dealer is the guy I spent $40 k on my boat, you'd think he would want my return business and cut a guy a little break. I'll give you a call on Monday.

[BILLY]

Dave, Let me know how it goes. I will wait to see if you forgot to order anything,then will be calling don with an order.

[Cyncwby]

Billy, thanks for the confidence in my memory I'm pushin 65 so you may be right. After looking at how the Sea Star mechanics are rigged it doesn't look too difficult to rebuild. The hardest part is re-filling the resivoir and bleeding the system...takes 2 guys for that. I will take plenty of pics during the take down so I can have a look see if I need it.......Dave

[BILLY]

Thanks. I thought that there will be springs, o rings, gaskets and who knows what else flying through the air when I take it apart. BUT everybody says that wont happen.

[Nikon Man]

It's actually an easy rebuild as far as part replacements go. I did mine with a kit I bought from Don. The "MOTHER" is in the bleeding process. Get the wife, girlfriend or both to help..........LOL. All kidding aside, it's allot easier when you have someone at the helm and you at the back. What ever you do don't let the helm go dry, check it often or use the kit that connects a bottle of steering oil above the helm, cause if it goes dry you'll have to start all over again. By the way, when you bleed the system, catch the steering oil that you bleed out and run it through a coffee filter, makes it 100% reusable and easy on the wallet too, that stuff ain't cheap.................Good luck...

[BILLY]

Thanks Gary.

[Cyncwby]

Update......the boat has been sitting in my RV garage for 8 months or so...don't ask why. The "leak" or better yet seap I found was less that a drip just sitting on the lower edge of the hyd. cylinder. Yesterday I pulled the boat out, put some new gas in it, installed the muffs and she fired right up (thanks to Don's cocktail). After letting it warm up a bit I wiped down both rams and easily turned the wheel lock to lock several times. A few minutes later I did the same procedure, all in all I did this 4 seperate time. Killed the engine wiper her down and backed her into the garage. This afternoon I checked and the cylinder and ram are dry as a bone...so maybe it was just inactivity?? Thank the good lord I'm going to the lake on Tues, we'll see what happens.......Dave

[EuropeanAM]

Dave:

That's good to know.... at least it's not a SUBSTANTIAL leak.

However.... a strong word of caution. Consider ANY leak in your steering system a SAFETY CONCERN.

Steering is NOT AN OPTIONAL ACCESSORY. It's MANDATORY to safely operate your boat.

Address the problem sooner, rather than later- so that you don't have to worry about your safety, or the safety of others around you on the water when and if it fails.

[Cyncwby]

Roger that!! no, I'll be VERY careful, just kind of strange that I have no seaps after thurning it back and forth a few times. I also checked this morning.....still dry. By the way, this set up only has 18.7 hours on it.

[taeheel2az]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Cyncwby &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">. . . I have no seaps after thurning it back and forth a few times . . . .</td></tr></table>

Not a reliable indicator for a very slow leak. Been there, done that.