Carver 350 Steering issue

32carv

32carv

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I have an issue with a 1993 Carver 350 aft cabin. The steering wheel turns but the rudders do not move. The owner says that it was fine in the spring but the boat has not left the the dock all summer until test drive. It is a hynautic hydrolic system. The survey says tha the systm shows 30lbs of presure. The boat is now out of the water. Where do I start?
Jim
 
The reservoir should have both a pressure gauge and a fluid level indicator . If both those are still showing proper readings, check the linkage from the hydraulic ram at the transom and the quadrant or tiller arm on the rudder posts. (And make sure any autopilot is turned off.)

I suppose it's possible your rudder post packing gland has seized to the post and either needs repacking or adjustment or more "encouragement", but also possible there is plenty of fluid and pressure in the Hynautic system but it just needs purging.

http://boaterstore.com/hynautics/purge1.pdf

http://boaterstore.com/hynautics/3linepurge.pdf

http://boaterstore.com/hynautics/2linepurge.pdf
 
You didn't say but sounds like you are in the process of buying this boat. If so, I would let the owner take care of it. It's his problem, not yours.
 
It is in the deal for him to fix it. I am trying to help him find the solution and put myself at ease by learning a little about the cause and the fix.
Jim
 
On my older boat, it says the pressure should read 40 lbs. You would have to check the manual to confirm. When you turn the helm wheel, do you feel resistance or does it spin freely? I'm not sure how to explain this, but if it is setup correctly, you should feel a resistance and it should feel rough like its rolling over small balls. What it is actually doing by turning the wheel is making the pump open and close pushing the fluid through the lines.

I would check the pressure and the fluid and then check inside the helm to make sure the connections are tight. I do know that the hynautic is a good system, but is a real pain to get tuned up properly, especially when you have to bleed the lines of air. Not a small easy thing to do...
 
The wheel fees like there is no resistance. I did not see it myself but the survey says that there is 30lbs. Of pressure.
Jim
 
Check the pressure and fluid levels again, the boat could easily lost pressure while sitting that long. If none of those are low then check the mechanical linkage to the rudder.
If the pressure or fluid is low, you have a leak which you then have to trace out. if this is the case look fot any signgs of leakage around connections, hynautic steering seals, ram seals etc.
The seller should be responsible for either fixing or making a price adjustment for repairs.
 
Gage could be stuck at 30. There should be Schrader valve on top of the reservoir. Remove the cover - looks like a tire stem cover- and depress the valve. If you get air pressure, then the air is there.

And if you have air pressure, AND there is still fluid in the reservoir, you can only have a bad helm or bad steer cylinder, or mechanical connections.

The air pressure is what pushes the fluid up to the middle port of the helm.

The helm acts as a pump moving the fluid from one side of the cylinder to the other.

Try spinning the wheel in one direction only, about 50 revolutions. If you finally get resistance and a clicking sound, do it the other way.
 
If you can spin the wheel with one finger without any effort, then it totally is not keeping the pressure. I don't have to struggle with mine, but there is a little effort.

When looking at the helm, do you see any signs of oil/fluid around the base? That would be the first place to look. Also look around where the oil container is for drips/leaks. Next look at the rudder linkage areas in the compartment where the lines run. If nothing there, then the hard parts... finding the lines that run from the engine compartment up to the helm.

My initial guess would be the helm unit that the wheel is connected to. Over time they break down and need to be rebuilt.
 
The wheel turns with no resistance. No sign of oil near wheel. Will inspect the rest when I get back to the boat. Where is the pressure gauge and fluid fill?
Jim
 
The pressure gauge and fluid fill will be in the engine compartment. Mine is on the port side of the boat towards the stern next to my water heater. They all won't be in the same location though. On my buddy's boat, his is attached on the stern dead center in the engine compartment.

The container is about half the size of a two liter bottle of soda (cut in half) and the gauge is right on top, can't miss it.
 
My pressurized reservoir with gauge is in a forward compartment under a hatch in the sole next to the lower helm station.
 
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