pressurising hydraulic steering?

[ChasB]

This is the reservevalve on the hydraulics of my steering

I only know it's called that because the manual says so

What worries me is that the guage says 10psi, but the panel on the side says it should be 25-30 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

The unit is full of fluid. Anyone know what I should do? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[boatmike]

Simply attach an air pump to the valve on top ( a car foot pump will do) and pump it back up to the recommended pressure. Should be part of your normal periodic maintenance routine

 

[sunquest]

You may find an electric pump the best. Mine is the same as ChasB's and when you connect the valve the pressure drops to zero. I found the best way is to attach the electric pump whilst it is running, watch the pressure gauge and remove when it reads 30-35psi, the final pressure will then read 25-30psi.
Geoff

 

[ChasB]

That easy? I'll try a bicycle pump first, though I have an electric on board but I'm not sure it'll go to 30psi. [ QUOTE ]
Should be part of your normal periodic maintenance routine

[/ QUOTE ]i) I doubt the previous owner ever did this ii) he certainly never told me... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I'm learning as I go - the hard way!

 

[wanderlust]

I have exactly the same resevoir on my boat. You may have too much fluid in there. You need to leave some space for air so you can create the pressure! Just fill to ther upper sight glass. You should then be able to pressurise with a bike pump. Pump it up to about 40psi as you lose pressure as you release the bike pump. this usually gets it to about 25-30 psi

 

[ChasB]

Ah. Just how do I do that? The manual says "back off the relief valve screws" not sure what that means and the bottom of the unit is all but inaccessible - which is probably why the original installer left it overfilled, he couldn't get to the bottom either. I'd hate to open it up and not be able to close it before loads of liquid gushed out...

 

[boatmike]

You can bleed oil from any part of the system if you can't get to the bottom of the tank. If it is only marginally overfilled I would leave it though. You should not need any more than a bike pump but a car foot pump is better. If you get air back when you take the pump off the valve is sticking. Because there is only a small volume of air in there it does not need to leak much to loose pressure. On a previous boat I had I could not easily get to the valve and fitted a length of high pressure tubing to it with an isolator valve in the line. Open valve, pump up, close valve, take pump off.... Worked well!

 

[ChasB]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've tried with a cycle pump, but it appears to be seized up (twenty+ years of never being used?). I'm wondering if I should try to unscrew it to give it a clean, but if it refuses to work can I get a replacement valve anywhere...?

 

[ChasB]

I sent the photos to my cousin and he provided the answer:

On top of the valve is a dust cap and all I needed to do was unscrew it with my fingers before trying to use the cycle pump.

Doh...!