T&T: Hydraulic steering

[Peter Bennett]

Friday, February 2, 2007, 9:53:53 AM, Russell wrote:

DR> Folks, I have 55,0000 lb steel vessel with hydraulic steering. Ever
DR> since I got her the number of turns lock to lock ( 32 as I recall) with
DR> the small 16-188 diameter wheel has been ridiculous.   The problem is
DR> she has a huge ram for the hydraulics to the large rudder.  I have bled
DR> and refilled the hydraulic fluid.  Is there any thing I can do to
DR> improve (Reduce) the number of turns it takes to move the rudder and
DR> improve my control????? Steering manually  is a real pain with this set
DR> up. Thanks Russ Davignon

Sounds to me as if the helm pump and rudder cylinder are mis-matched.
 You need either a lower-volume cylinder, or a higher-volume helm pump
(or both).  This will probably make steering somewhat harder, as you
are effectively changing the gear ratio between helm and rudder.


-- 
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Lien Hwa 28 (AKA Polaris 30) "Sea Spray"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter 
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca