SEASTAR Hydraulic steering...rotate elbow?

Has anyone attempted to move these elbows on the cyclinder (under and in front of the outboard)? Was it simply more difficult to turn than expect, but it will turn. I don't want to break these elbows and delay the use of my boat. Has anyone installed the "Sea Star hydraulic steering system", or familiar with the cyclinder? I notice that most boats with outboards, including mine, have the controls entering into the motor well from the starboard side. The "elbows" (under the hydraulic nipples) where the hydraulic hoses connect, face the port side. This requires each of the hydraulic hoses to make an "easy" bend/loop back towards each of the elbows, wasting almost 1' foot of hose.

I have seen one boat, at the showroom, with them turned and facing to the starboard/right side, all other's that I have noticed are facing port/left and require that loop (takes up more room in the motor well).

I already have on order and being delivered an extra 4' of hose and union fittings to join to the existing 16' of hose (probably only need 2' more) that came with my kit (I should have ordered the 20' in the first place), and I was informed by customer support (Teleflex customer support is OUTSTANDING) that these elbows should turn in a counter clockwise direction (they are only torqued to 17lbs), but I am certain we exceed 30lbs trying to get these elbows to rotate 90 degrees with a wrench. The mechanics that were helping me with the steering installation, they were upgrading and swapping out my outboard motors, indicated that it appeared they were "Lock-tite".


Thanks.

When I put mine in, I ended up with the starboard elbow facing to the right and the port elbow facing the opposite way. I didn't really like the way it looked, but I didn't want to over or under torque the fittings and potentially strip out something or have a leak. It works fine and I have never had a leak.

For me, function was more important than looks.

Ron

My owners manual says NOT to change the angle of these fittings.