Hynautic Steering Ram Switching to Seastar Ram

[dbillman]

My 246 CCP has the old style hynautic hydraulic steering with a reservoir (separate from the helm) that is pressurized. My issue is that I have had the seals replaced on the steering ram (side mount system) twice now in a little over two years and it is starting to leak again. There is a small nick in the ram that I wasn't even sure was reaching the seal in the cylinder but since it is leaking again, that seems like the culprit by chewing up the seal over time.

Unless anyone has a better option, I guess I am going to bite the bullet and buy a new seastar steering ram/cylinder rather than having the seals replaced every 6 months to a year. I emailed seastar asking if the new seastar cylinders are compatible with my setup and got a short reply that they were. However, the reply was not very confidence inspiring as it was so short.

I want to replace with a front mount cylinder (HC5345-3). Does anyone see a problem with this? I'm not knowledgeable about fluid dynamics or hydraulics at all and a buddy is skeptical that the new cylinders will bolt right up with no issues. Figured I'd check with you all before dropping the cash on the cylinder only to find out it doesn't work or doesn't work properly.

Thanks

[wingtime]

That sounds like the right front mount cylinder. You didn't say what make your outboard is though. Definitely worth getting the Seastar kit.

[dbillman]

Sorry, its a 94 Johnson Ocean Runner. I know the front mount cylinder is the correct one for that motor based on the seastar website. I was just unsure if the current helm and system I have would match up. Trying the trust but verify approach with the response I got from seastar.

Hearing no objections though, I will get the new cylinder and keep my fingers crossed.

[wingtime]

Oh I thought you were going to get a complete Sestak steering kit complete with new helm. I'm not sure if that cylinder is compatible with your helm. You be surprised at how a complete kit is not much more than just a cylinder alone.

[GoneFission]

Hynautic and SeaStar are two very different systems.  Most Hynautics are constantly pressurized systems using a pressurized reservoir; the SeaStar uses differential pressure from a helm pump.  I would not have confidence that a SeaStar cylinder would work for long on a Hynautic system.   BUT - Hynautic also made some helm pump systems back in the day - these might be compatible with a SeaStar cylinder if you remove the coupling device they often used between the helm and the cylinder. 

Hope this helps - good luck!

[mshugg]

These folks sell rebuilt sea star helms and rams, I think at about half the cost of new. 

http://www.boatsteer.com