Hynautic Steering Purge Valve Needed

[Merkinbrumsky]

Left the marina on Sunday for a cruise only to discover no steering as I cleared the slip into heavy dinghy/cruiser traffic in a good breeze. Wiggled around the marina with the engines for a bit and eventually got tied back up. Added some steering fluid and bled the lines. Good to go except I twisted off one of the purge valve nuts on the hynautic reservoir and sheered the bolt off. Luckily it is still operable for now and managed a beauty cruise up to Beausoleil island a classic Georgian Bay sunset. Any leads on finding a new purge valve appreciated. I believe it needs to be rated for 550 psi. The reservoir is a RV 50 or RV 57. May be time to switch to sea star but I just rebuilt both helms last year and in the process accumulated a bunch of spare parts and fittings. Would like to keep it going if I could now that I have a solid knowledge of the system.
Thanks

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[bud37]

Looks like you may be able to easy out the bolt remnants.....may be worth a try.

[Phrancus]

Some time ago I posted the manual and specs of that system. Perhaps useful as reference for your set up.

[Merkinbrumsky]

Looks like you may be able to easy out the bolt remnants.....may be worth a try.

I was thinking that too initially. That bolt that’s sheered off appears to have a bleeder line inside of it though. I’ve spoken to several tech’s over the phone and been told that this is not a simple solution. The valve has to be set it for 550psi or so. Any replacement would have to be calibrated on a bench first. Also I was told it has to be installed from the inside of the reservoir, which means removing it. If I can find an old reservoir I could just swap the purge valves out though. Another option would be to plumb in a stand alone purge which I have seen a few nos online but they are pricey. Another tech told me it is just an air compressor dump valve but that goes against what at least 3 others have told me. Worst case I can remove it and ship to Florida for a rebuild but hoping to just find a replacement and swap out in the winter if possible as our season up here is so short.May have to scour the scrap heap and see what I can find. I was hoping a member would have a lead on an old reservoir. Does not have to be the exact one, just had to have the same purge.

[Phrancus]

If I remember correctly that system is not so complicated. Bleeding nicely and like designed is through a special bolt or tap. In real life you can often simply loosen a line. Spills but that doesn't matter as it's you own boat and you do the cleaning, not a paid mechanic.

So fill it all up, fill the reservoir and after that you put pressure on it with a simple bycicle pump.

The bleeding procedure that matters more is the turning all the way both ways (pump the oil through the system) and then bleed it at the highest point(s).

Read forementioned documents and think about the principle, I really don't believe that you need special bleeding bolts for this.

[Phrancus]

More topics:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7469&p=58690&hilit=hynautic#p58690

and the one with the files I can't find right now but I remember posting them in a .zip file.


EDIT: found it: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6791&p=53376&hilit=hynautic#p53376

[Merkinbrumsky]

Source of the post If I remember correctly that system is not so complicated. Bleeding nicely and like designed is through a special bolt or tap. In real life you can often simply loosen a line. Spills but that doesn't matter as it's you own boat and you do the cleaning, not a paid mechanic.

So fill it all up, fill the reservoir and after that you put pressure on it with a simple bycicle pump.

The bleeding procedure that matters more is the turning all the way both ways (pump the oil through the system) and then bleed it at the highest point(s).

Read forementioned documents and think about the principle, I really don't believe that you need special bleeding bolts for this.

Thanks for the info. So….if needed I could simply loosen off the P & S hoses one at at a time at the highest helm and do the 60 turns each way, catching any spillage at the helm while making sure the reservoir is topped up if I am in need of a purge?

[Phrancus]

That's how I remember it yes.

There was/is some material on youtube on how to refurbish the wheel pumps/hubs and that also explained the workings. If I remember correctly, the pressure keeps air out but does not do anything in power assistance. Power assistance comes from the pump on the engine connected to a hydraulic cylinder at the rudder linkage.

I found it a bit elaborate and impractical to check the pressure and all. Where other systems (vetus?) simply allow all air to go up. Bleed/fill up on top and done. But I may be wrong on that.

[Merkinbrumsky]

Found a replacement reservoir on Fleabay for under $100. Plan on swapping the purge valves in the off season if it holds out for the rest of the summer. Thanks to all who offered help.

[DvB]

I just rebuilt my fly bridge steering pump and had to bleed the system which I did yesterday. It sounds like you may have put to much torque on the pressure relief valve adjuster. They are factory set and the nut is pinned to the threaded shaft. It should have taken minimal force to loosen the nut/shaft and then use your fingers to screw out until it stops. Once both are out screwed out you can bleed the system. Fill tank to 3/4 full and added 40 psi pressure. Break the port line at the high steering pump and bleed the air until fluid leaks out. Refill tank and pressurize and do to the same processes for the starboard line. Do the same process for the lower helm. Repeat at the cylinder bleed fittings. Now do 60 turns to port at the the upper helm at 2-3 sec per revolution. Have someone watch the fluid level, if it it drops too much stop and add more. Now do your lower helm to port using the same procedure. Now do the the whole thing again going to starboard. Once done make sure your level in the reservoir is correct and set the pressure to 25 to 30 psi. Now screw in the nut/shaft back in and gentle! snug so you to shear the pin.

Since I was just installing the fly bridge pump I rebuilt, I only bleed the port and starboard line. I did do the 6o turn thing and both helm stations.

DvB