Hydrolic steering

Is it common for a 43' sailboat with hydrolic steering to require 6 turns lock to lock or do I have a problem? There is only one steering station.

 

You have a problem!

Common is 2,5 max 3 turns from hard to hard.

I assume your plunger pump is too small.

Regards
Richard

 

If there were always 6 turns the answer is in post #2.
If the phenomenon is new, there may be air in the system due to a leak (slurping sound) or a faulty pump/ hydraulic motor.

 

Depends on the wheel size and the rudder force, 2.5 is ideal but many larger boats have a lower volume per rotation pump, some are vane pumps too and the vanes can stick or wear.

Do you keep the pressure on a hard lock or does the system leak ?

 

I'm not familliar with the unit but the pump appears to be at the base of the wheel hub. There is a resevoir fill behind the wheel. Could this unit be rebuilt? or would it have to be replaced withn something larger. The lock to lock turns have been consistant and there is no further movement once the helm is hard over.

 

It is the difference in displacement between the pump at the wheel and the cylinder or plunger motor near the rudder which determines the ratio.
Look for a type number and name on both of them: if it is a system from Vetus you can get information on their website.

I asked in post #3 if this unit has behaved this way since day 1 (wrong combination) or if it is a new problem (defect).

 

I understand that as a answer on CDK´s question:

Lyndon mentioned it already, it is not uncommon:

Many builders save some $ on the plunger pump (the unit at the wheel hub), it does´nt provide a sufficient volume of fluid to push the rod faster at the rudder.

The only solution is to replace the pump with a bigger model.

As far as I remember "Vetus" provides a comparison table in his catalogue, where one can match the pump to the cylinder volume.

Regards
Richard

 

How long is the arm that is mounter on the rudder shaft has it got any holes along its length TO where the ram shaft is bolted through ? Pictures would help of the ram and shaft and rudder shaft plus the pump where the wheel is mounted !!
If the arm is long the movement will be slow and very easy to turn the wheel !!
If the arm is shortened then the rudder will turn quicker with less turns of the wheel but alsowill be harder to turn the wheel !!! Logical ?

 

What I more or less expect is that Captjj is not the first owner and fears he's recently bought himself a lemon. But I may be wrong and he only supplied minimal information, at least not enough for me to provide a clear answer.

 

I hear what you are saying !Everyone has differant veiws and have differant priorities pictures dont lie so thats what we need to see what is actully there and how its set up and what is being used !.

 

If you put a larger displacement pump, it will have less turns and require more effort to steer.

 

Easyer to just use a shorter arm on the rudder! and cheaper !!

 

Its actually adjustable on my boat

 

I would think it should be adjustable or just a matter of drilling a hole a little in the arm closer to the rudder shaft and that will have the same affect . as with all things dont get something without sacrificing something else .