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Hydraulic steering gonešŸ˜ž - new helm needed


Pickles

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Planned an early morning session (3am at the ramp) on squid, then out to chase Kingies. Pushed the Quinny off the trailer, deployed the motor and fired up the Mercā€™ (love my 90hp CT), engaged reverse and turned the wheel to reverse out, but nothing. Steering wheel just ā€œfree wheeledā€ with no friction and motor did not move. Tilted up and tilted down and tried again - same thing.Ā 
Got home at 5.30 in time for breakfast. Went back to the shed to try and diagnose problem and tried again and it worked perfectly, normal pressure on the wheel and motor turned. Not wanting to get stuck on the water, I booked it in for diagnosis and service. Turned out to be a new steering helm required ($1000).

The boat (5.1 Quintrex Fishabout) has done just on 1000 hours in 5 years and faultless in every respect, so I guess a major repair of this nature is not unexpected, given itā€™s on the water 3 or 4 times a week - just unexpected, but certainly better than getting stuck when outside wide.

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I have a hydrive obkt1 bullhorn which has been in service 20yrs+.Ā 

the whole kit is around $1000 (helm, cylinder, pressure tubing, fittings, fluid)Ā replacement helm around $700 replacement cylinder around $500 etc

Almost makes you want to buy the whole kit and eBay the bits you donā€™t need!!!!

cheers ZoranĀ 

Ā 

Ā 

Ā 

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I assume you have a Baystar system on that boat, they are good for up to 150 hp.

If so you can buy the helm from USA for around $500-600 delivered, I guess you don't want to wait for it as you can get one locally immediately.Ā  The other option is to get a seal kit for around $50-100.

Last option buy the the full kit use the helm and keep the rest for future use or use the full kit, repair the the old helm and sell the old kit .

Ā 

Zoran,Ā 

The South Australian made Hydrive is much more than $1000. It isĀ  $1349 from Whitworths .Ā https://www.whitworths.com.au/hydrive-admiral-hydraulic-steering-outboard-kit-obkit1-merc

However this is a much heavier duty than Baystar it is equivalent to Seastar and in my opinion it has a much better cylinder than the more common American Seastar. The cylinder in the Hydrive is bronze not aluminium like the Seastar.Ā (It was in the past , not sure now).

I have tilt helm Seastar in my GW but many years ago I had Hydrive in my 2250 signature.

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1 hour ago, noelm said:

The helm is a pretty simple system, I have had them to bits lots of times, nothing complicated about it, I cant believe a boat shop is not going to repair the helm.

I'm with you Noelm, all it needs is some O rings replaced.

The problem is these days nobody wants to repair anything, much easier for them to replace and they make more $$$ on the replacement. It is much the same with cars as well.

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I think the Seastar helm uses what is called a "swash" plate, that consists of a series of little finger like gizmos that are simply little cylinder pumps, set at an angle, in the oil, when you turn the wheel it moves the cylinders over the plate, causing them to "pump" up and down, creating hydraulic pressure, nothing tricky about it at all, however, cleanliness is paramount when pulling them to bits.

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4 hours ago, wrxhoon1 said:

Zoran,Ā 

The South Australian made Hydrive is much more than $1000. It isĀ  $1349 from Whitworths .Ā https://www.whitworths.com.au/hydrive-admiral-hydraulic-steering-outboard-kit-obkit1-merc

However this is a much heavier duty than Baystar it is equivalent to Seastar and in my opinion it has a much better cylinder than the more common American Seastar. The cylinder in the Hydrive is bronze not aluminium like the Seastar.Ā (It was in the past , not sure now).

Hi Jerry,

I wasn't sure which unit was installed in Pickle's boat at the time but understood it was for a 90HPĀ ... I have the OBKIT1 which is rated to 300HP and is overkill... but did a quick google on my phone before posting my original reply ... there are HyDrive complete kits around the $1000 mark ... Commander series from both Bias and Whitworths....

image.thumb.png.270567ad51e1dc870519839278d8064c.png

Ā 

@Pickles, I'm posting this just as possible options for you to consider.

Cheers Zoran

Ā 

Edited by zmk1962
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On 10/25/2020 at 7:35 AM, Pickles said:

Planned an early morning session (3am at the ramp) on squid, then out to chase Kingies. Pushed the Quinny off the trailer, deployed the motor and fired up the Mercā€™ (love my 90hp CT), engaged reverse and turned the wheel to reverse out, but nothing. Steering wheel just ā€œfree wheeledā€ with no friction and motor did not move. Tilted up and tilted down and tried again - same thing.Ā 
Got home at 5.30 in time for breakfast. Went back to the shed to try and diagnose problem and tried again and it worked perfectly, normal pressure on the wheel and motor turned. Not wanting to get stuck on the water, I booked it in for diagnosis and service. Turned out to be a new steering helm required ($1000).

The boat (5.1 Quintrex Fishabout) has done just on 1000 hours in 5 years and faultless in every respect, so I guess a major repair of this nature is not unexpected, given itā€™s on the water 3 or 4 times a week - just unexpected, but certainly better than getting stuck when outside wide.

As you say Bob, better than breaking down on the water. Hopefully you will have another 1000 hours of trouble free boating (at least). Good luck, bn

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