Found this while slumming.
http://www.thehulltruth.com/sportfishin ... ing.html#bVery good information.
Mod Edit:Just a CYA in case the link gets broken:
Great Find
Teleflex steering
I had some issues with my hydraulic steering not responing to input. The problem had gotten worse with time, until something needed to be done. I will attach the instructions for rebuilding/cleaning the check valve in the helm. I will also attach some pics of what you will be looking at.
from teleflex :
Please follow these instructions and test to get your valves in good working condition.
1. The Check valve is a single valve that moves back in fourth during the steering operation. (see below)
It is located on both sides of the helm pump. The plug is a large slotted head screw
2. These removal instructions are the same for both sides of the helm pump, and the units included in the
helm are identical on both sides.
3. Remove the plug from the helm pump, both sides (see below). Be careful not to loose any parts that
may come flying out.
4. Remove the spring and brass eyelet, the ball.
5. To remove the o’ring/ball seat, you will need to CAREFULLY remove the o’ring (do not damage this
o’ring as this is NOT included in the seal kit you have. Once o’ring is removed, the ball seat will fall
out.
6. With both sides removed the valve should fall out. If not you will need to force it out carefully, DO
NOT DAMAGE THE VALVE, or the helm is garbage.
7. Clean the passageway free of any dirt or debris.
8. Put the valve back in.
9. You want to reassemble one side at a time only. Before placing the spring back in stretch it just a
LITTLE bit to give it a little more tension. Then put everything back in, replacing item #6 (see below
and instructions).
10. With one side assembled, flip the helm upside down so you can see the tip of the valve. With a pen
push the valve down, the valve should return on it’s own. If it does remove the whole assembly you
just put in and repeat with the other side. If the valve returns on both sides, reassemble the whole
assembly both sides.
11. TEST. Plug the back of the helm pump completely. At this point try to turn the steering wheel on the
pump. If it does not turn, you are good to go, put helm back in and re-bleed the steering system. If it
does turn you must repeat all above steps again.
What I did today :
I went out and pulled my helm out of the boat today. Brought it home and took apart the area I believed was the problem, as per the instructions I posted. When I got the two plugs removed, I found the sliding valve to be initaly stuck to one side. So I took it apart and cleaned everything.
I explain the pics now:
1. Picture of removed helm. Note the plug, it is in the center of the pic, w/ the slot.
2. After you remove the plug (careful not to loose the spring or ball), this is what you see. You are looking at the seat that the ball sits on. The black on the outer edges are the o-ring. You have to work at getting it out, trust me. I finally got a compass (the kind you use in math) and with the pointed end was able to pull the o-ring out enough to remove it.
3.These are the parts laid out in the way they fit in the pump.
4. A close-up of the ball seats and valve. Note - the valve is what gets stuck.
5. All the parts assembled loose so you can see how the fit together.
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