vetus mt30 steering

[ortogo]

hi all hope someone can help with this, Backed my boat off the mooring this morning, only to find no steering. The boat is fitted with a vetus MT30 steering system. Topped up the helm unit with enough hydraulic fluid to get it operating, thinking i'd have a look on the net and download a manual for ths steering. No such luck, (and a lot of people moaning about how bad vetus back up is in this sort of case), just hoping someone has a manual or has this unit on their boat and knows how much oil to add to the helm pump. There isn't a dipstick or level plug, just a filler plug on the very top of the unit, is it simply a case of filling the unit up to the top? thanks in advance

 

[PCUK]

Fill it to the top and once it is bled top it up again if necessary.

 

[bendyone]

Fill it and bleed it once all the air is out fill so it covers the workings, allow space for expansion.
Look for the leak the system shouldn't loose oil.

 

[ortogo]

Fill it and bleed it once all the air is out fill so it covers the workings, allow space for expansion.
Look for the leak the system shouldn't loose oil.

thanks for that, soon as i get it topped up and bled I'll have a check for leaks. I see vetus do a special oil for the system is this really necessary or would any manual steering oil do?

 

[PCUK]

As long as its the same grade anything will do the job.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Hydraulic oil 10w, so quite thin is vetus standard. thicker wont hurt just make the steering slightly heavier.

As others said fill and leave a small airspace.

 

[superheat6k]

If you have power assisted steering (eg autohelm), switch it on and select auto then give it a port or stbd turn command of say 30 degrees, then spin the wheel the opposite way. This rapidly purges the lines, but avoid droops in the lines as these cause air locks which can be difficult to shift, and make the steering feel spongy. When finally filling leave a small level say 1/2" for fluid expansion in warmer weather.

I have some pictures of the inside of an MT30 somewhere if ever needed - please pm me and I will dig them out.

 

[ortogo]

many thanks to everyone for their help, and superheat6K i've sent pm

 

[Cardo]

Manual:
http://www.vetus.com/media/magentominds/sasdocument/20121107215854_0.pdf