The steering system by SeaStar is designed to bring an increased level of convenience to users. This brand has made it effortless for users to manage the outboard and inboard engines.
Many anglers across the nation have switched to this steering system for an easier fishing trip.
If you’re also struggling to manage the direction due to excessive steering load, then the SeaStar Hydraulic steering system will fit perfectly into your setup.
With that said, there are still a few minor problems that you can run into with the SeaStar Hydraulic steering system.
Let’s cover a few of these common issues and some troubleshooting steps that can help you around these problems.
Make sure that you go through the article carefully as there are tons of reasons behind the problem you might be running into with your device.
When it comes to fixing the issue, people need to understand what is causing it. Once this is done, you can then follow the solutions mentioned below to help you out.
If none of these work for you then your only option left will be to contact the support team for this brand.
SeaStar Hydraulic Steering Troubleshooting
- Air Bubbles
One of the most problematic situations you can run into with this unit is the presence of air bubbles in the hydraulic valves.
These air bubbles lead to many issues with the SeaStar steering system, and you’ll notice a substantial decrease in control because of this problem.
So, if you feel like the steering system is not responding well to your input, then make sure to inspect the valves for air bubbles.
To get around this problem, you will need to connect two containers with your reservoir, one filled with hydraulic fluid at a height, and the other container should be empty.
Now, you can pump the hydraulic fluid into the cylinder, and you will notice some air bubbles coming out of the hose.
This will indicate that the entrapped air is escaping through the hose, and you can end the process after the appropriate amount of hydraulic fluid has cycled through the cylinder.
All in all, your main focus here should be on removing the air bubbles from the cylinder by cycling fresh hydraulic oil into the system.
So, you should immediately attach two containers to the steering cylinder and get the air bubbles out of the system.
This might take some time but, in most cases, the information provided above is enough to fix the problem you were dealing with.
- Steering in One Direction
Many times, users report about the steering system only moves in one direction and slows down when steering in the other direction.
There are many causes that can lead to this problem, but most commonly, people are running into issues with their main cylinder.
So, if you’re in a similar situation, then there is a good chance that you have a bad steering cylinder. Depending upon your luck, a bit of servicing will help you get around this issue.
This problem occurs when users don’t put any focus on maintaining their machines and ignore all the servicing requirements.
So, if you haven’t invested any time into servicing the machine, then fixing the steering system should help you get around this problem.
Ideally, servicing and re-sealing the cylinder should help you maneuver through the issue, but you can always call an expert to seek professional help.
That way, you won’t have to spend as much time managing the maintenance requirements of the cylinder, and the issue will be fixed in no time.
So, if you’re inexperienced and don’t know how to service the steering cylinders, then seek help from local experts.
If you are someone who wants to fix the steering on their own, then make sure that you consult the manual throughout the process. This contains all the steps required for the troubleshooting process.
In case you get confused or run into any issues, the manual should help you out.
People that are still having trouble with the procedure should look for videos online. These can be better as you get to see every step.
Although if even this does not work then contacting an expert is your only option. Hopefully, this should be enough to fix your problem.
- Heavy Steering
It is also quite common for the steering load to become heavy over time. Users report not being able to move the steering in any direction because of the excessive load.
It can be quite annoying to deal with this issue, but luckily you won’t have to implement any extra steps to sort out this problem.
Most often than not, this issue is a result of low quantities of hydraulic oil in the system. So, if you’re struggling with heavier steering, there is a good chance that your reservoir is running low on hydraulic oil.
All you need to do to get around this problem is to add more fluid to the reservoir, and the problem will be fixed in no time. However, make sure not to overflow the reservoir as that can also lead to similar problems.
All in all, these were a few issues that can lead to some problems with your steering system.
Ideally, you won’t have to worry about any of these issues if you follow proper maintenance cycles. So, as long as you maintain your system on a monthly basis, you will get the perfect performance from this system.
These are also easy to follow so make sure that you make a habit of regular maintenance.
- Faulty Hydraulic Steering Or Damaged Part
The problems mentioned above are some of the most common issues people report running into. While these can be fixed easily using the solutions provided.
Some people have also reported that their problem was from a broken or damaged part instead.
In cases like these, you have to first find the part that Is damaged. This will take a lot of time and only people experienced with this hydraulic steering can find it.
If you are one of them then you should be able to locate the faulty part and then replace it on your own.
However, if you don’t know how the steering is built then your only option will be to contact the support team for this brand. When it comes to this, you should note that the process saves people a lot of time and effort.
This is because the support team will take care of your issue.
The team might ask you some questions regarding the problem so make sure that you answer them carefully. Once done, the team should then be able to isolate the issue and then provide you with viable answers.
Alternatively, they will send in a person from their team to fix the issue for you.
If the damaged parts have to be replaced, then your hydraulic steering will be sent back to the brand.
They will get the faulty parts replaced or repaired for you at a discounted price or even for free as long as the device was still under warranty. If not, then you will have to pay for the repairs.
This is why it is recommended that people go through their warranty guidelines once. This can help them in confirming if the issue can be dealt with using the service or not.
Hopefully, this information should be enough for most people when dealing with any problems with SeaStar Hydraulic Steering.