Sea Star Steering How To Help

[Stay Bent]

I noticed a leak coming from both O-rings on my 200 Yamaha with Sea Star Unit# HC5340-42. I tried tightening, but it's starting to leaking again. So I want to change out the O-rings.

I have looked at the Seastarsteering web-site, but didn't see a break-down on doing this task. It looks simple, but I might as well ask before I screw something up.

Look at the pics and comment as you deem necessary:

1. A look at the Sea Star unit I have.
2. Left-side leak
3. Right-side leak
4. What all do I need to dis-connect and is the Allen-head screw where I will bleed the air off when done?

I was told I may have to buy a tool that fits into the 4 little holes on the end-cap to remove it and get to the seal. Any and all info is appreciated. Bernard

[sqwaby]

YEs that is the bleeder, its pretty much like bleeding brakes on your car. Those 2 nuts come off, also you must loosen or remove the ones holding the black brackets. THis is a good time to remove the bar running through the steering tube and lube it. Not sure but I think there is a set of inner seals or O rings behind the ones you see externally. I've had a couple that leaked before, but sent them in for complete rebuild. Don't remember costs.

[sqwaby]

P.S. crack your bleeders open to relieve pressure before you try to remove the seals.

[qapd]

Stay Bent,

You need the following part

Cylinder Seal Kit HS5157

Go to www.surplusunlimited.com for the best price. Do a search for the part number. I just replaced my seals last year. Get the wrench it makes it much easier. You turn the wheel all the way to extend the ram. You will lose very little fluid as the ram is extended. Remove the end and replace. Repeat the process for the other side. Use the guide to protect the new seals. Very good instructions included.

[wildbill]

I just did this on mine, and it was a very easy process. You just take the seal off of each end and put the new one on. The instructions with the seal kit are easy to follow. It took less than an hour to get it done.

[Pocketfisherman]

When those seal leak with the motor tilted up, it is usually not the seals at fault. The motor tilt tube is binding, or the nuts that hold the end of the ram to the tiller bar are binding. When you tilt up the motor, the binding puts side force on the rams, and that distorts the seals causing the leak. I've had several boats that did the same thing. Removing, cleaning, and lubing the tilt tube, and cleaning the corrosion and salt build up out of the end pivot nuts fixed the leaky seals. I found this out the hard way after first changing the seals, and the new ones leaked just like the old ones did. You can confirm this diagnoses by closely whatching the hydraulic cylinder as you trim the motor up. If it moves in jerks versus a smooth motion, yo have binding which distorts the seals. BillS

[Stay Bent]

Thanks Gapd for the other resource for the seals. I will compare their price tonight.
Wildbill for the confidence.
Pocketfisherman for the other thing to check. I thought at first this was true too, because I noticed it after being in transit. I keep the motor in the down position when put to bed and had noticed the drops in the splashwell. (Notice picture) So I fairly positive it is my 10 year old seals. Will do the ops check though to really rule that out.