Navtec Boom Vang Hydraulic - Leaking

[avazquez]

Has anyone replaced the seals on a Navtec Hydraulic Boom Rams? If so where can one buy the seals and how is it done? Are they available in a hydraulic supplies store?

[GordMay]

According to Navtec:
“Navtec hydraulics should be repaired by authorized Navtec agents. Special tools are needed to insert the new seals in place in order to ensure zero leakage.”
but
Try looking in the ONLINE MANUALS
NAVTEC Rigging Solutions

[avazquez]

Yes, but as I was leaving the marina with the hydraulic unit, a guy stopped me and told me he used to repair them at an authorized distributor. Explained to me how simple it is to replace the seals etc.Still I was wondering if anyone outhere had done it.

[delmarrey]

BUT I work with hydraulics.

The seals were very tough, but again I have the experience. Unless you have the skills I would not recommend doing it yourself. Your whole rig may depend on it.

Your vang also has to be recharged with nitrogen at 600 psi once it’s re-done.

The Navtec systems are simple but very well built. After 25 years all the parts in mine were still in good shape except the seals, of course. The parts are not the generic hyd stuff. They were special built seals probably only accessible through Navtec. Not cheap either.

I ordered my parts through a marine supplier who are also an authorized distributor/repair facility.


http://www.fisheriessupply.com/onlin...active/Ntk/All

[irwinsailor]

I have Navtec equipment and my vang needed work. I made the BIG mistake of taking it to a hydraulic shop and they made a mess of it. If I would have sent it out to Navtec in the first place it would have saved me a fair amount of money. They did a great deal of damage to it and the price that they wanted for fixing it was nearly double what Navtec charged even with the replacement of the piston that the local shop damaged. I will never , ever use anyone other than Navtec again.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by avazquez

Yes, but as I was leaving the marina with the hydraulic unit, a guy stopped me and told me he used to repair them at an authorized distributor. Explained to me how simple it is to replace the seals etc. Still I was wondering if anyone outhere had done it.

Which suggests that his simple explanation wasn't entirely satisfactory.
Have you sought a Navtec quote, or budget cost?

[Alan Wheeler]

I too used to work with Hydraulics. I am experianced and thus I can say with proffesional expertese, Send it to Navtec.

[avazquez]

I guess Navtec is my only choice. It costs $300.00 to replace the seals, including the seals. And $190.00 to FEDEX each way for a grand total of $680.00 to replace the seals. Ouch.......

[delmarrey]

That's way too much!!! Find yourself a better dealer. It only took me an hour to rebuild and recharge my cylinders. Plus the $100 for seals. Was that a Navtec quote??

Where are you located???

[avazquez]

Thats the quote from an authorized dealer. I am in Puerto Rico and there is no one here thats authorized dealer. I would not mind paying for the seals etc. But what really kills me is the shipping. i am going to try and see if they will sell me the seals and then I can find out how to do the work and do it myself. It can't be rocket science. I mean its only a Hydraulic ram.

[delmarrey]

The cylinders are not too bad! The pumps are difficult!
But, If I may suggest, order the seals and then take it to a local business that works with hydraulic cylinders, if ones available. They maybe able to do a good job. Just make sure it's a clean professional looking place. Surely there is someone that works on heavy equipment. TLC is very important with high pressure seals.

If the piston seal leaks you will have a crossover of nitrogen and hyd oil either direction or both. And someone will need to recharge the lower end with nitrogen once it's assembled and full of oil.

Lets just hope the pressure is released before it's taken apart.

[hellosailor]

I would try going to an AVIATION HYDRAULICS shop, they are required to work to a higher standard than the guys who deal with construction equipment.

I can't swear by boom vangs but know folks who sent hydraulic backstay adjusters in to hydraulic shops, and had no problem with the result at a fraction of the "marine" price. In any field, any industry, a bad shop can mangle a job that a good shop would have no problem with.

If you do ship it back to the mainland...Maybe Navtec can send you an "advanced swap out" so that instead of fedexing both ways, you can ship yours in while they ship you a similar rebuilt one back? Cutting the effective time in half?

Aviation hydraulic shops are usually at the far end of the local airfields, somewhere you'll find a mechanic working on planes who can refer you to one.<G>

[Alan Wheeler]

There will be very few shops, aviation even, capable of recharging with nitrogen.

[Ex-Calif]

Go to a motorcycle shop - Top end dirt bike shop, motocross/supercross shop would be my recommendation. Nitrogen charged forks = No big deal...

I second and third the advice about clean looking professional shop.

[avazquez]

This site is really amazing...it makes sailboat ownership much easier. I will post how everything comes out.