1973 Gibson houseboat oil cap

[Bdunbar44]

I’m wondering what this plug is? It’s on the dash with the control panel and says oil on it? What kind of oil do I put in this and how much? It’s left of the steering wheel

 

[Mc Tool]

Hydraulic trim tabs ?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Most likely hydraulic steering

 

[Grub54891]

Steering. If it gets to low, you lose steering.

 

[mr 88]

Probably a Sea Star system, which you can buy there steering oil , 30ish a quart online . Or you can use any light weight oil #5 ( hydraulic oil like they use for snowplows )and under . Transmission oil will also work. Fill to about a 1/2" below the cap , that's for expansion in the hot weather . Depends on where that oil goes to , could be remote tank under the fill hole , or this directly goes to the helm itself . Picture from behind would help . If you can see oil at the top now , your good to go .

 

[mr 88]

Edit above post . OP doesn't state how for from the " steering wheel " it is . If it's within a couple inches of the steering wheel shaft then fill it as stated above as it's not some remote fill system. Through me off when he stated it's on the dash , which can be where the gauges are or where you put your compass and electronics on . Me initially thinking the face of the dash , not the top . Maybe the OP will chime in on this .

 

[Grub54891]

Some systems have a reservoir down in the engine room, it gets filled to a certian level and pumped up with air to keep the system full. I don't recall those having a filler at the helm stations though. If this system loses air or oil, you lose steering completely. If it does lose air or oil, you have a leak someplace.

 

[Bdunbar44]

Guys I will look under the steering wheel. My electric box is under there also. I remember seeing a copper tube going to the oil plug but don’t remember seeing a reservoir. Last time I took it out it was hard to steer. I can’t see any oil in the tube

 

[Bdunbar44]

 

[mr 88]

Sea Star helm , usually fill hole goes directly into main chamber . I see a mesh reinforced hose , if that hose goes to your fill plug the oil level is good as long as oil is in that hose . Should not use or need oil , unless you have a leak , which will leave a puddle , oil spot under it . The two main items that might leak are the steering wheel shaft where it goes into helm and the rudder / outdrive cylinder around the push pull shaft .
You state the steering was getting " hard " . Usually when low on oil in this system it is just the opposite as you have air in the system and it might take twice as many revolutions of the wheel.to move the rudder. I would isolate the issue by unhooking the rudder/ outdrive ,motor ,from the hydraulic coupler and see if the rudder etc. move freely . Then see if the ram is moving freely , not jerky in motion .

 

[Bdunbar44]

Sea Star helm , usually fill hole goes directly into main chamber . I see a mesh reinforced hose , if that hose goes to your fill plug the oil level is good as long as oil is in that hose . Should not use or need oil , unless you have a leak , which will leave a puddle , oil spot under it . The two main items that might leak are the steering wheel shaft where it goes into helm and the rudder / outdrive cylinder around the push pull shaft .
You state the steering was getting " hard " . Usually when low on oil in this system it is just the opposite as you have air in the system and it might take twice as many revolutions of the wheel.to move the rudder. I would isolate the issue by unhooking the rudder/ outdrive ,motor ,from the hydraulic coupler and see if the rudder etc. move freely . Then see if the ram is moving freely , not jerky in motion .

What kind of oil do I add? I think it’s just a little low

 

[mr 88]

What kind of oil do I add? I think it’s just a little low

See post # 5 . If your low on oil you have a leak . And if your real low , air will have entered the system , which means bleeding the air out . They sell a hose ( on- line or maybe on this site , around 30.00 ) that goes on the two relief valves on the steering cylinder , this eliminates about 2-3 hours of " normal " bleeding . I recommend buying one . Again , low oil usually does not translate to lumpy or hard steering in a Sea Star setup. And if it's hard to turn , follow my advice on isolating the steering helm from the rudder or outdrive . I purchased a boat that had hard steering . So bad that it took two hands to move the wheel . I was lucky to move either rudder with a 3' pry bar . The rudder shafts had all sorts of tar and crap stuck on the shaft that required me to drop them and sand off the deposition. Worked excellent after that .