Teleflex/Seastar hydrolic steering rebuild:

[TundraIII]

Just in case anyone out there has this steering system...I just rebuilt mine and it was easy!!! If you have a leaky cylinder it is a snap to fix. For a new control cylinder it is about 450 bucks (ouch, no thanks)..new seal kit about 100 bucks...and the rebuild takes about 30 minutes.

[Starfish]

What kind of fluid do you refill the system with? I just noticed mine is getting a little sloppy after 6 years of hard use... I haven't seen any major leakage but wanted to top it up and see if that's sufficient.

[TundraIII]

I use the SeaStar branded hydrolic fluid....expensive...but I am sure there is a cheaper alternative....typical quart is about 15 bucks but I have a twin outboard set up and this system doesnt require much more than 2 quarts. You can use a decent 5 weight motor oil if you get in a pinch. I always keep an extra quart of 5 weight on my boat..as part of an emergency steering repair kit.

[Starfish]

I was wondering if it was just brake fluid or ATF or something. I guess I'll pick up a quart of the Seastar brand just to be on the safe side.

[Just-in-Time]

atf can not hold up to the standards
it needs to be mil spec

[thistledew]

Don't use brake fluid

[fishkisser]

atf can not hold up to the standards
it needs to be mil spec

I had no idea that hydraulic fluid used in marine applications need to be held to standardization by the U.S. Department of Defense ...:confused:

[TundraIII]

that's right..do not use brake fluid....

[Just-in-Time]

I had no idea that hydraulic fluid used in marine applications need to be held to standardization by the U.S. Department of Defense ...:confused:

mil specs in not just defense
look at any airline

read the back of a bottle of sea star fluid, mil spec number....
I wish i had a bottle to scan in

[fishkisser]

Here's a bit of information for everyone to ponder ...:)
http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=123123&posts=13