Adding a back steering wheel.

[Rranger]

I have a 21 foot Fibreform with a flying bridge with controls and steering access in both places. I'd like to be able to mount a steering wheel in the stern area so when I'm by myself I have some control steering when I'm looking after rods. My steering system is steering wheel activated hydraulics with the resovoir up top in the flying bridge. My question is could I take the two hoses off at the hydraulic steering ram at the transom, put in hydraulic tee's on both ram fittings, hook the original lines back to the tee's and then hook two more lines connected to a new steering wheel and pump to the other ports in the tee's. Work all the steering wheels till all the air is purged, all the while topping the fluid in the resovoir. Anyone done such a thing and would it work?

 

[gm280]

Well there should be some Hydraulics Engineers on these forums that can answer that question. If you presently have two steering wheel options, then it has to work to allow you to steering from either place. JMHO!

 

[alldodge]

I have a 21 foot Fibreform with a flying bridge with controls and steering access in both places. I'd like to be able to mount a steering wheel in the stern area so when I'm by myself I have some control steering when I'm looking after rods. My steering system is steering wheel activated hydraulics with the resovoir up top in the flying bridge. My question is could I take the two hoses off at the hydraulic steering ram at the transom, put in hydraulic tee's on both ram fittings, hook the original lines back to the tee's and then hook two more lines connected to a new steering wheel and pump to the other ports in the tee's. Work all the steering wheels till all the air is purged, all the while topping the fluid in the resovoir. Anyone done such a thing and would it work?

In looking at seastar they have an add a helm kits, which require each helm to be tied together with tee's. So I see it as there is a third line which would need to go back to the other helms additional port

http://www.seastarsolutions.com/wp-...d-Station-Fitting-Kit-HF6007-Rev.B-998008.pdf

 

[duped]

Yes, you need to have a compensating line to feed the lower helm. If you have a SeaStar pump at your upper helm, it should have a plug in a port at the bottom just for this. Make sure that line from the new helm is on a straight rise up to the old helm, with no dips or you'll never get it bled. Also, you need to have a non-vented fill cap in the lower station. If you buy the helm pump new, it comes with both fill caps. Second hand, you may need to order it. All of this is assuming you have a SeaStar system currently. If you have something older/ obsolete, there might be more to it.

 

[Rranger]

Yes, you need to have a compensating line to feed the lower helm. If you have a SeaStar pump at your upper helm, it should have a plug in a port at the bottom just for this. Make sure that line from the new helm is on a straight rise up to the old helm, with no dips or you'll never get it bled. Also, you need to have a non-vented fill cap in the lower station. If you buy the helm pump new, it comes with both fill caps. Second hand, you may need to order it. All of this is assuming you have a SeaStar system currently. If you have something older/ obsolete, there might be more to it.

My system is activated by turning the steering wheel. My boat is a 80's Fiberform. I have a steering wheel in the flying bridge and the cabin. I fill the system in the tank located in the flying bridge and it bleeds the air out of a air hole at the top of the resovoir. There is no pump.

 

[alldodge]

It should work and bleed in the same fashion as before, just Tee all the lines