Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

[bowler]

Hi all,

I'm seriously close to buying a hydrualic steering system for my boat. It has wicked torque steer which isn't helped by a larger prop. I've coped with it for a few years now but as I'm unlikely to be getting rid of the boat anytime soon I'm thinking of taking the plunge. I do have a trim tab above the prop but messing with it improves the problem only slightly.

It's looking like the uflex system w/ balanced cylinder and helm pump. It seems that I can go with either a 28cc or 33cc helm pump. The smaller is 4.7 turns lock to lock, the larger 4 turns lock to lock.

My questions are:

- Has anyone on the forum done a similar upgrade on a small bowrider (18ft with merc 3 and alpha 1)? If so were you happy with the results?

- Should I go for the bigger pump - they do say bigger is better!

I undertand that this should pretty much clear up my torque steer issues and improve handling. I can find lots of cases on the OB forum but not so much with the IO.

Thanks in advance,

D.

 

[achris]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

...I undertand that this should pretty much clear up my torque steer issues and improve handling.....

Not true. The 'torque steer' is coming from the drive and being transmitted back to the helm as an external input. That external input will still be there with hydraulic steering, just as much as with the cable system you currently have. The only way to fix the problem is to find out why it's there and correct that.

A correctly set up and maintained cable system is as good a steering system as you can wish for. They are dead simple to maintain and never leak fluid, and give you instant response; things a hydraulic system can only dream about....

It could be something simple like, as a guess, the transom plate's been installed off square...
When you say 'large prop' what size are we talking about?

Chris......

 

[bowler]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

Thanks for the swift reply Chris,

It's a 14" diameter x 20 pitch RH Mercury Alpha 4. Its been on the boat since i got it so I know nothing else! As far as I know the PO put it on for hole shot.

D.

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

Hydraulic steering is great. Hard to beat it and the balanced cylinder is the way to go.
Hydraulic or no feedback systems will not relieve the drive from any steer torque that might cause wear on the parts. It only masks this from the helm wheel. So you might want to install and adjust the right trim fin to remove as much of this as you can.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

:facepalm:What is a Alpha 4?????

 

[achris]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

:facepalm:What is a Alpha 4?????

4 Blade aluminium prop, made by Mercury.... They are VERY nice. I used to run a 20" on the old V6, currently own an 18", I keep as a spare ('main' prop is 17" SS). The A4s have small, high rake angle blades and are excellent at shedding weed and are very smooth running props.

I doubt very much if that prop would be causing your problem. I would start looking into trim angle, and installation position...

 

[Don S]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

:facepalm:What is a Alpha 4?????

It's an outdrive, used to transfer power from the engine to the prop, it also shifts the gears from forward neutral and reverse.

Actually it's a Merc prop http://www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/aluminum/alpha-4/

 

[Pete104]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

Prop didn't even dawn on me. I thought we had another type of drive!

 

[bowler]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

Cheers chris,

I guess i'll just have to have a play when i get back on the water. I'll shelve the hydraulics for the time being.

Pete104, at least you've learned something new today!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

Cheers chris,

I guess i'll just have to have a play when i get back on the water. I'll shelve the hydraulics for the time being.

Pete104, at least you've learned something new today!

Ayuh,... A No Feed-back helm, or adding P/Steering will stop the torque from the prop from turnin' the steering wheel on ya,...
Alot Cheaper than goin' with a full Hyd. steering system...

 

[bowler]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

something like this?

http://www.nautequipe.co.uk/teleflex-no-feedback-steering-kits-711-p.asp

thing is, i only notice the issue when i'm actively steering. not when holding a course?

D

 

[bowler]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

Bond-O,

to retro fit power steering i'd need a pump, ram, 2 hoses and ???? anything else? is this something worth considering using used parts?

Seems like i can get the parts used from ebay for a few hundred quid.

D.

 

[Don S]

Re: Uflex hydrualic steering upgrade, alpha 1 - advice/comments welcome

It's usually not to hard to find the major parts like the pump, ram, hoses, cooler etc. where you run into problems if finding all the little brackets, and right sized bolts, spacers an other little filddly bits.
If you can find or make all the necessary parts, go for it. If not, the hydraulic steering is the way to go. It's just expensive, but does come in a kit.