Beneteau 27.7 Hydraulic Lifting Keel

[Shazam!]

I have a Beneteau 27.7 with a manually operated hydraulic lifting keel. This works well but I have an occasional slight fluid leak from the pump and when pumping I get the feeling that there is air in the hydraulic system.

I can find no information on how to bleed the system and cannot find any bleed screw. Also, I don't know what fluid to use to top up or how to fill it (although there is something that looks like a filling cap). The leaking fluid looks like ATF fluid.

Can anyone advise please? There is nothing in my boat documentation and I cannot find the answer online.

Thanks Dave

 

[rogerthebodger]

ATF i not the normal fluid in hydraulic systems but it will be OK for this application.

To bleed the system look for any screwed joint and bleeding can be performed by cracking (open a small amount) the joint and pumping the system to allow and air out of the system.

Before bleeding fix any leaks first.

 

[fredrussell]

ATF seems like a strange thing to be putting in a hydraulic system. Can you not email Beneteau? It’s not too old a boat for them to have a tech guy with the answer surely?

 

[Shazam!]

ATF i not the normal fluid in hydraulic systems but it will be OK for this application.

To bleed the system look for any screwed joint and bleeding can be performed by cracking (open a small amount) the joint and pumping the system to allow and air out of the system.

Before bleeding fix any leaks first.

Thank you for your advice. I had a close look today and found a joint at the top of the pillar so I will give that a try.