texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,586
TexDawg 119,529
Bigbob_FTW 94,908
John175☮ 85,893
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,523
Mark Perry 72,297
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,861
Posts13,935,741
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up #10951970 07/01/15 10:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,880
5
5Redman8 Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
5
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,880
Keeping this as brief as possible....

Seastar Hydraulic Steering
Ranger Z520
Merc 250 Pro XS
Hydraulic Jack Plate running at 3"

Steering is completely normal while trimmed down at all speeds...and even trimmed up some.

As I trim up to get to full speed(rare but still want everything correct)....the steering wheel is next to impossible to turn left.....turning right is no issue. The trim gauge is near the 1/4 mark.

I cannot see any way the hoses could be binding....fluid at at normal level.

Am I just trimmed too high?

What should I try?

Last edited by 5Redman8; 07/01/15 10:43 PM.
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up [Re: 5Redman8] #10952476 07/02/15 03:06 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,293
Bigron119 Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,293
Is it a recent change? Has it been ok in the past? If so then you might have a "Air Bubble" in that side or the hose on that side might be clogged?

Re: Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up [Re: 5Redman8] #10952829 07/02/15 12:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,504
Ken A. Online Content
Groovy
Online Content
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,504
Nothing wrong with your Sea Star steering.

This is normal and the higher you raise your motor the worse it will get. Steering torque is caused by the prop rotating partially out of the water. As your speed increases and the hull begins to lift the prop is partially in the water and part out of the water.

You can decrease the amount of steering torque by lowering the motor deeper into the water. The lighter the load in your boat the higher you can raise the motor and still maintain good hull lift. Drag is the enemy of speed. The heavier the load, the deeper you will have to run it to lift the hull to achieve good top speed.

Try this. Get up to top speed and note the steering torque on the wheel. Now start lowering the motor as you run at the same throttle setting. You should notice a decrease in steering torque. Watch your speed on the GPS while doing it. Did it decrease or increase? If it increased, you had the motor too high to begin with.



Re: Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up [Re: 5Redman8] #10952845 07/02/15 12:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,880
5
5Redman8 Offline OP
TFF Team Angler
OP Offline
TFF Team Angler
5
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,880
Thanks guys.

Not a new issue....just a new to me boat.

Ken, I will give that a try next run.

Last edited by 5Redman8; 07/02/15 12:48 PM.
Re: Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up [Re: 5Redman8] #10952847 07/02/15 12:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,504
Ken A. Online Content
Groovy
Online Content
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,504
Call me and I will talk you through it if you want. I have owned a couple (dozen) boats with Sea Star steering.



Re: Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up [Re: Ken A.] #10952875 07/02/15 12:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,200
Kay Dyson Offline
HOT Mess!!!
Offline
HOT Mess!!!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,200
Originally Posted By: Ken A.
Call me and I will talk you through it if you want. I have owned a couple (dozen) boats with Sea Star steering.

Bragger ...... roflmao.. Ken is a go fast guy, he'll know what to do.. grin

Re: Hydraulic Steering....Hard to Turn Left when Trimmed Up [Re: 5Redman8] #10952956 07/02/15 01:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,504
Ken A. Online Content
Groovy
Online Content
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,504
And if Ken doesn't know what to do he will make up a really good story! grin



Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3