Need help on Helm w/ hydraulic

I got my steering kit in just before leaving for the beach last weekend. I'm going to the beach again this weekend so I'm going to try and work on the boat in the evenings this week.
 
Blue Runner (and anyone else),

I've ordered 100 of the front shaft x-rings for the seastar/baystar helm pumps for $13 from McMaster Carr. I know I don't need 100 but they were $6 plus shipping from Teleflex.

If anyone needs an extra oring or 3 to keep on hand I'll send you one for the cost of shipping.

:hi:
 
Very nice offer there JR!! What's the deal with these? Do they dry out or what? Where is it located? Is it around the fill?
 
Very nice offer there JR!! What's the deal with these? Do they dry out or what? Where is it located? Is it around the fill?

It's behind the wheel, behind the retainer with the 3 screws, on the shaft (huh huh).

They keep the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir and when they go bad you have a slow leak of fluid onto the floor under the helm. If the fluid gets too low you can lose your steering partially or even completely.
 
I got the cylinder installed on the motor yesterday evening with some help from friend Cory. There was some trial and error involved. The instructions were a little lacking, but all in all it wasn't too bad. A little tight in there trying to get the tiller bolt connected.

For the helm, my existing hole isn't big enough. Referring back to the diagram, my 2 mounting choices are on the left of the picture below. For the top one, a 5" hole is required and 4" for the bottom option. I'm going to start out with the bottom option with the thinking that if I do not like it I will cut it out to 5" and use the top option. Once its cut you can't put it back! I'm going to put a few feelers out today to try and get a 4" hole saw. Either my dad or one of my friends probably has one laying around. If I can't find one I'll go buy one. Working again this evening. Once the hole is cut I'll be almost there. Will post progress.
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No hole saw yesterday, but I'm supposed to be getting something to cut it this evening. I don't know what yet...hole saw, rotozip, ??? But dad said he'd borrow it for me today.

I put a charge on my battery and the thing is deader than a door nail so I headed to Wally World and bought a marine battery. The dead one is an Optima - really like these batteries. I want to buy another Optima and use the Wally World battery for backup.

While at Wally World I bought 2 cans of seafoam and some stabil, went home and ran the motor on a 6 gallon tank with some of the seafoam. I was running it on muffs and water flow was terrible. The overheat alarm went off so I stopped. It was pissing but like a 100 year old man, nothing behind it so to speak.

This evening hopefully I will get my hole cut, install the helm and fill/bleed the unit. Then I'm going to put it in the lake!
 
quit cutting holes and get that corn ready for next week, that's what your dad really said didn't he? I'll see ya Friday in Denton.
 
Skools LOL!! We'll be there! Hot dogs, roasted corn, and now even corn dogs.

Update on my project - I got the steering installed this weekend. Did some work up til 0 dark thirty on Friday evening and hit it again on Saturday morning. Got finished around 11 am and headed to the lake. I ran it through its paces, burning approximately 15 gallons and well over 30 miles. A good time was had as this was the first successful run since July 27th 2008 (at exactly 5:07 pm).

:time::time::time::time::time:
 
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