Carver Owners Forum

So I have a 1985 Carver Voyager 28 I bought last summer. This weekend the fly bridge helm started spitting steering fluid out onto the dash panel. Nothing underneath or behind. I’m assuming a seal has let go and time for a rebuild. Kits are readily available so shouldn’t be a problem getting them. Has anyone here done a rebuild on an h-50? Any pointers? Also, there is a pump located within a few feet of the hynautic reservoir in the engine space. Can anyone identify this? Power assisted steering? Or? Will this pump effect the purge after seal replacement? Can I add sea star steering fluid intermittently to maintain steerage until I rebuild the helm? Is the fluid added at the reservoir? Or?
Thanks

Boat is not equipped with autopilot

Yes, you could continue to add fluid until you can fix. You could lower the pressure a little at the reservoir, and that might slow the leak. However, if you do lower the pressure any air bubble inside are going to expand and you might feel the helm start "clicking" when you turn it, as the air bubbles are pushed through the valves.

There are threads on here where folks have rebuilt those helms, including the part numbers for the seals.

That other pump looks like the ones used on Bennett trim tabs. Usually there's a reservoir below it but I can't see that in your picture.

Our son in law rebuilt ours , no real issues that he mentioned. It took him about 90 minutes or so. Here is a website detailing a rebuild http://www.local1259iaff.org/hydraulichelmrebuild.html . Good luck !

km1125 wrote:Source of the post

That other pump looks like the ones used on Bennett trim tabs. Usually there's a reservoir below it but I can't see that in your picture.

It does have a reservoir underneath. I thought it was plumbed into the steering system bc of those thin black hydraulic hose’s, same as the helm. I need to investigate that further I ordered a seal kit for them helm but maybe I should have ordered 2 and do lower station at the same time.

When my Hynautic bit the dust, I transitioned to a SeaStar helm. Eliminated the Hynautic reservoir, which was a PITA to get to, and changed to just 2 hydraulic lines. The SeaStar helm fills at the helm pump, and now I have the comfort in a new, rather than used, outdated components. Also, and I am sure you know this, make sure you are using hydraulic steering fluid, and not power trim / power steering fluid. The SeaStar fluid should be fine, Quicksilver also markets a hydraulic steering fluid, at a little lower price point. The purging of the hydraulic system is also a long, frustrating process. If you know a mechanic that has the purge machine, it will save you a lot of time and grief. Good luck! er

Merkinbrumsky wrote:Source of the post

km1125 wrote:Source of the post

That other pump looks like the ones used on Bennett trim tabs. Usually there's a reservoir below it but I can't see that in your picture.

It does have a reservoir underneath. I thought it was plumbed into the steering system bc of those thin black hydraulic hose’s, same as the helm. I need to investigate that further I ordered a seal kit for them helm but maybe I should have ordered 2 and do lower station at the same time.

You are correct sir….trim tab pump it is..

That trim tab pump usually has a clear plastic cover that goes over the top. Looks like yours is missing.

The Hynautic systems are VERY easy to purge the air out of. You loosen the pressure screw on the ram, then crank the wheel over past the stop a bunch of times in each direction. All the air gets forced back to the reservoir then you can top of the fluid level. Because the system is pressurized, you just need to loosen one of the hoses at the helm to do the initial fill.

Thanks for the help. A wealth of knowledge here. A great community for carver owners to be a part of

Seal kit arrived today. Will hopefully get the helm pulled before the weekend is over and back in early next week. I will post my results.