HYdraulic steering extension??

[avius]

Hey guys... I have a small problem. I want to move my console forward on the deck, but my hydraulic steering hoses are too short. Has anyone else had this type of problem? What was your solution? Is there an way to add length to them without completely replacing the hoses?

 

[seabob4]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

If you have a good hydraulic shop around, they can supply you with couplers and a couples lengths of 3' hose (with the properly swaged fittings) to extend the hoses.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

yep OR you could replace them pretty easily.... Someone had cut a couple lines on my carver while they were stealing copper (PITA) before I got it. I went to my local shop and bought a 50' roll of the plastic tubing for $10 I then used duct tape to attach the new to the old and used the old to pull it through.... VERY easy and might be cheaper than extending what you have

 

[ufm82]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

Hydraulic like a SeaStar? Outboard I assume. Since that hose carries the pressure from the helm I wouldn't use plain plastic tubing. However, compression fittings are used to attach the hose to the helm so I don't see why you couldn't use a compression union to extend them. However, I like the idea of having hoses made with swaged fittings on the ends- that would be the most secure and strongest way to do it.

UFM82

 

[seabob4]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

The Seastar tubing (which hyd shops sell an equivalent of) is a whole lot less $$ than the hose. However, it is only acceptable for use in protected areas away from sunlight exposure. It will dry and crack if continuously exposed to UV rays.

If you can do the last 3' or so in a protected area, a couple of unions and some compression nuts will do the trick...

 

[avius]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

smokeonthewater: That sounds like a good idea, but I have a Zodiac Mark VI made out of hypalon. I don't trust splicing hydraulic hose w/ plastic tubing because id be worried about leakage. Any petroleum based product getting on the hypalon fabric could cause glue failure. And that would be a disaster.

ufm82: I think i will combine your and seabob82's idea of hydraulic hose from hydro shop and compression union. I had considered compression fittings from the start but dont have enough knowledge to do it without asking someone who DOES know. My local WestMarine is comprised of people who sail, and dont know jack about motor boats.

seabob4: Is it just the UV I need to worry about with the cheaper non-marine hose? If so, not a problem as my entire setup is running under an aluminum deck and into the console. No UV rays there... Is salt water a potential issue?

 

[avius]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

By the way thanks for the replies fellas... you've all given me a lot to think about.

 

[seabob4]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

Avius,
As long as the tubing is kept out of UV exposure, you'll be alright...

 

[alwims]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

You might give some real thought to replacing the whole tubing instead of splicing it. My concern is, if something goes wrong with your splice, you will loose your steering and it may slam to port or starboard, depending on prop rotation, real hard and could throw you or your passengers overboard or worse. Kind of like brakes on a land vehicle. You don't even think about splicing those hydraulic lines. I've got hydraulic steering on my bassboat and there is NO WAY I would even think about splicing those lines. It's not that hard to replace all the tubing. Just food for thought.

 

[seabob4]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

Alwims,
The same can be said for the connections at the helm and at the cylinder. His existing hoses would not be touched, the "splices" we are talking about are threaded components, not swaged. Just as your hoses are threaded onto your helm and cylinder. When the 1000 PSI tubing is used on I/Os and I/Bs, it is secured with compression nuts, just as I have described here.

Both the hose and the tubing are rated at 1000 PSI. Both swaged fittings (hose), and compression nuts (tubing) are standard Teleflex installation methods...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

I wasn't suggesting splicing plastic onto braided.... I was suggesting REPLACING short plastic with long plastic..... you hadn't given much detail about your rig at the time.... Since we now know that you have braided hoses instead of plastic tubing and that you have exposed lines then I suggest that you look into having new full length hoses made..... You may find that there really isn't as much price difference between the short and long ones as you might expect.... Otherwise just use unions to couple (thread together) some new short hoses to the old ones as seabob first said and you'll be fine

 

[seabob4]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

I wasn't suggesting splicing plastic onto braided.... I was suuggesting REPLACING short plastic with long plastic..... you hadn't given much detail about your rig at the time.... Since we now know that you have braided hoses instead of plastic tubing and that you have exposed lines then I suggest that you look into having new hoses made..... You may find that there really isn't as much price difference between the short and long ones as you might expect.... Otherwise just use unions to couple hoses together and you'll be fine

...X2

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: HYdraulic steering extension??

I'd take the boat to a hydraulic shop when your ready and have them fix it.

I just posted about the steering going out on my brothers velocity- $250 for new hose shop fixed it for $12