Steering issue

[32carv]

I have a 1993 Carver 350 Aft Cabin. Steering wheel turns and clicks but rudder don't move. Where do I start?
Jim

 

[370 Motoryacht]

Fluid full? There should be either a fill at the wheel or down in the aft cabin behind the aft cabinetry where you can fill and pressurize.

 

[32carv]

Does anyone know exactly where the fill is? It's a new boat to me and I could not find it when I looked. Jim

 

[rtribble]

Ours is a 1985 aft cabin, but the reservior is under the aft cabin bed on the left hand side.
This resevervior also has a pressure gauge whith a tire fill valve for pressurization. The reservior should have around 25lb pressure on it.
If loosing pressure/fluid you need to start looking for a leak in the system somwhere.

http://boaterstore.com/hynautics/hynautic1.html

 

[rnbenton]

Hynautic steering reservoir is most often located very near the ram. I'm betting you have a bad ram seal.

Bob

 

[imspacemancraig]

Or quite possible a leak at the helm station as well. That's where mine leaked...

 

[boatbum]

And make sure it really has pressure in it. Our pressure gauge is stuck and reads 25 psi but there may be nothing in it. Check the fluid level, pump it up if required, and bleed out at the helm. Then follow the directions to remove all of the air from the system.

 

[32carv]

Went to the boat today and found the reservoir under a built in dresser drawer in the aft cabin. The fluid was full but pressure was at zero. The sticker on the side said that the pressure should be between 30 and 40 lbs. Used a bicycle pump and took pressure up to 40lbs and the steering now works fine. I will check the pressure in a few weeks but I think that I may have gotten off easy on this one. Thanks for the help.
Jim

 

[rtribble]

Keep a close eye out for signs of oil leaks at the various conection points of the hynautic steering systems tubing and helm stations as you do have a leak in the system (however minor) Ours did the same as yours at first and repressurring worked for a while but it eventualy went out and I had to rebuild it.
One good thing about twins is you can steer the boat with the enjines should you loose steering while out.
At any rate good luck and happy boating.