New steering question

[jdupree]

[slvrlng]

Did somebody say squirrel ? ? ? ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdyo4evwMxU

[gran398]

Lew and Bridgette went to the lake today to run Slipaway....and EXCITEMENT is in the air

They will be home shortly, with videos...and EXCITEMENT

[slvrlng]

Yes we went for a cruise this afternoon. 60 degrees with a 5 to 10 mph wind out of the SW. At 40 mph it was a little chilly but the motor is running better and better every time we use it. All that new gas is cleaning out the carbon and we tried to burn some off today. The rpms have increased to 5200 into the wind and 5400 downwind. 44 mph downwind. I still haven't gotten this prop to ventilate, yet. 14 x 19. Anyway when we dropped it in I backed it off the trailer and steered out into the little cove. But I suddenly realized that I wasn't going out into the cove the stern was swinging towards the bank that runs out parallel to the ramp. WTH!!!! I look back at the motor and see that even though I had steered towards the cove and open water the motor was hard over towards the bank.




















YES, I am a dumbazz!!!


I had put the hoses for the new steering on the wrong fittings. It steers backwards. Dammit man!!!
Once I figured this out I had a very quick learning curve on how to think backwards. If you want to go right you steer left. Holy Moly I cannot believe I did this. I quickly decided that what the heck I am already in the water and we might as well go for a ride. I will switch them out tomorrow and bleed it again so from now on it will be fine. I hope no one had a camera on me trying to load this thing. You know when your coming in and everything is lined up and a little gust of wind blows you just a touch off and you correct the drift but NO it goes the other way!!!!!! Took me about 15 times before I hit it right and we were able to get the heck out of there! Anyway, enjoy the videos and the pic.

We found one place that was 142 ft. Check out the fish suspended down about 75 ft.



I asked you if you were ready and you said yes!!!

http://s669.photobucket.com/albums/vv60 ... way002.mp4

Motor just runs and runs!!!

http://s669.photobucket.com/albums/vv60 ... way001.mp4

[seabob4]

Lewis,
Swap the lines at the helm, not the cylinder.  You lose very little fluid that way, just have a rag or two handy to catch the leaks.

Top off the helm pump, take her out, see how the helm feels.  I've done this many a time, most times a re-bleed is not necessary...

[slvrlng]

I would but they were a pain in the butt to get on there. I need to bleed it anyway as I have not yet bled it after installation.

[seabob4]

I would but they were a pain in the butt to get on there. I need to bleed it anyway as I have not yet bled it after installation.

When you bleed, a little tip.  After you've done one side, have a good flow of air free fluid, close the bleeder fitting, then, while holding the bottle upright, keep leaning on the relief valve (when you're hard over, the relief valve allows you to keep going, feels like you might break something but you won't), you'll see bubbles of air going back up the bleeder hose.  Do the same to the other side.  Once you feel she's good and bled, don't remove the bottle, but check your steering hardover to hardover several times.  Ideally you want to see the motor move as soon as you move the wheel.  If it doesn't, you'll need to bleed some more.  Once you're satisfied, pull the bottle off, top off the helm, and you'll be food to go.

If over the course of usage, you feel any "jerkiness" (don't think that's a word, but whatever...), that's air and you'll have to re-bleed.  The key is to take your time, and have Bridget help you, holding the catch jar at the cylinder.  And remember, get your fluid at the airport!!

[slvrlng]

Changed the hoses over today at the cylinder. I just didn't feel like playing a contortionist in and around the console. I had a very small amount of spillage and after rerouting the hoses and re-bundling them it seems to work like it should. I did not bleed them as it seemed to not have any issues when turning the wheel. No shuddering or hesitation at all. Time will tell. I am not sure if the Uflex system has a relief valve. I don't remember seeing one.

[gran398]

Weather still decent over there tomorrow? You gonna try and hit the lake again?

[slvrlng]

Looks like rain so probably not going tomorrow. We will be going up to the mountains to the father in laws place. He has a woodworking shop in his basement and I got him to make some new teak gunwale steps. I will have to sand the bottom of them to match the shear line but I found a really nice piece of teak with some awesome grain at a exotic wood importer near the house. They had one board that was about 1" thick and about 16 feet long and about 14 inches wide. That was a really nice chunk of wood!

[John Jones]

I don't even want to know what that piece of teak cost.  I looked online a few years ago and a 1x6x6' was like $80 + shipping.

[Capt Matt]

I think the plug in the helm on the U-flex is vented, part of my problem was I had a vented plug at both helms.
Capt Matt

[seabob4]

Lewis, the relief valve is inside the helm pump.  You won't see it, but when you go hardover and keep turning, you'll see you can continue to turn the wheel.  That is the relief valve in action...

Capt. Matt, on dual station installs, the lower helm pump fill cap is replaced with a non-vented cap, the vented is at the upper helm.  PITA to bleed dual station.  You ought to try bleeding dual-station, dual cylinder!  

[Capt Matt]

Seabob
Yeah thats how its hooked up now, My buddy has a portable steering pump that circulates the fluid, It comes in a tool box with 12V plugs to run the pump.One end atatches to the cylinder and one end to the helm  You can watch the clear tubes  as it circulates until all the air is gone from the system. Neat system I had never seen one before
Capt Matt

[slvrlng]

Check out the teak step pads my father in law made. The best thing is if I leave them where they are now they fit flush. Now to sand and clean up the edges and then figure out what I will coat them with. I talked to gran and he said use some UV epoxy with awlclear on top. I just hate to use regular old spar varnish and it peel off next year. Capt Bob suggested a product to someone else a little while back but I can't remember the name. Was it Teak guard?