I noticed to my dismay yesterday that yellow fluid was leaking from the steering wheel in the cabin. Behind the wheel, where the cables attach, all is dry. But the leak in the cabin is steady.

Does anyone have experience here and what are the remedies and repair procedure? Enough is coming out so I suppose I will have to add fluid after the repair. And, I guess after that is done, the system will have to be bled.

Is this a repair an amateur can undertake or one best left to a competent pro mechanic? My hope is that it is just a loose connection or bad seal.

thnx

(Actually it was the prospective buyer who saw the fluid drip as I wondered why the carpet was stained yellow suddenly. This was a sudden leak after 23 years into the boat's life...a first-time event in an otherwise good working hydraulic steering system. An awkward moment for it to occur, though. AND, it was the second bad moment of the demo. After a short ride, one of the engines quit and would not restart as we were about to dock. I was able to get her in on one engine with a little assistance and eventually got it re-started while the buyer observed. Apparently, the carb was flooding and pushing the throttle all the way allowed fuel to clear as I cranked.)

UPDATE: MARINA CALLED TODAY to say the problem was probably the fuel itself...very dirty with varnishy stuff in it. Gotta dump what is in there (about 40-50 gals) or "polish" it. That is, run it all thru an external filter/centrifuge system. They are checking prices. Update to follow

I had to fill and bleed my hydraulic steering system. My 1988 32' system has a hynautic two helm system. All of the bleeding instructions I found on-line were slightly off because there are several types of systems. I found the real information printed on the side of the reservoir which is under the cockpit. I had to stick a camera down there and take enough pictures until I could piece together all the text. Hynautic has changed hands several times. If this is your system here are the bleeding instructions.

SYSTEM PURGING INSTRUCTIONS (From side of reservoir unit)

1. Fill reservoir to within 2” of the top. Pressurize to 30-40 PSI.

2. Loosen valve screws on relief valve under reservoir.

3. Using bleeder screws or cylinder fittings bleed both ends of cylinder until solid oil appears.

4. Go to highest helm and turn slowly 40 time in one direction
Repeat in the same direction at each successively lower stations.

5. Again bleed at cylinder as in Step 3.

6. Go to top station and turn slowly 40 time in the opposite direction. Repeat in the same direction at
successively lower stations.

7. Again bleed at cylinder as in Step 3
.
8. Purging should be complete at this time.

9. Close valve screws on relief valve. Check turns H.O. to H.O. from owners manual.
No manual- mine was 4 and 1/2 turns
10. Leave system pressure at 25-30 PSI, and top off the reservoir half full.


I didn't have to rebuild my unit but I did find a lot of information on this site. What you do all depends on what kind of steering unit you have.

http://www.boatered.com/...opic.asp?TOPIC_ID=138635

Thnx all for the background info. Called Teleflex tech support which id'd the seal kit as HS-05 (from the marking on the housing listing the wheel and dish sizes). Part is being shipped to the marina and with some filling and purging, should be back to normal soon.