Bertram33 User Forum

Did anyone ever had their hydraulic steering cylinder rebuilt? and can someone tell me what brand or type I need for a 1988 FBC? The label is unreadable!

It's called Hynautic Steering, most of us have to replace the seals in the helm behind the steering wheel (I haven't yet). I don't know anyone who has replaced the cylinder, although it's very probable someone has. All of our helms are a little different depending on models, year built, blah, blah, blah. If you look behind your steering wheel, you'll see the Hynautic helm # stamped on the aluminum plate. I think most of us have H50, H51, H55 but I just guessing there. You can parts on eBay, go2marine and even West Marine. Example: http://www.seastarsolutions.com/product ... autic-new/ You can also send your defective parts to Rose's Marine in Gloucester, if possible, they'll repair it for you. https://www.rosesmarine.com Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

Thanks Rick. The helm unit is fine, it looks like the seals in the aft cylinder which operate the rudders are leaking. I guess I’ll just pull it and see if I can find someone who possibly can rebuild it.

Any hydraulics shop can replace the seals on the ram. Mike Frd

We just did one on a friends boat yesterday. It wasn’t Hynautics but another brand. The hardest part is getting the ends off to get at the seals. You’ll need a rebuild kit of course, a vice to hold the cylinder when you attempt to pull the ends, probably a spanner wrench and lots of PB Blaster, acetone etc to soak the ends. Once apart and cleaned up the seals slip right on and the ends glide right back in place. If we purchased a new cylinder it would have been $1K. A new rebuild kit was $25.00 spanner wrench was $20.00. We probably had a few hours labor in just the rebuild. You’ll need something to wrap the cylinder in while you tighten it down in the vice as not to mar it; we used a piece of lead wrapped around it.

Thanks everyone for the information. I’ll keep you posted as I go.