Hydraulic Steering

[MIRELOS]

What hydraulic oil is used on system; boat FP Eleuthera 60.
I suppose most French cats have a similar system.

[Emmalina]

Mmm try hydraulic fluid ... Once had a guy ask my for steering oil. When I finished laughing I asked him was it for his hydraulic steering. He seemed very confused when I gave him some hydraulic fluid for his hydraulic steering... Life can be funny

[belizesailor]

What make/model of hydraulic steering (both helm pump and rams)?

Fluid specs can vary even by models of same make. Can get interesting when diff makes of components are mixed in system.

[monte]

We just had a blowout on ours. Maybe the thread will be useful for you
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=157236
In short, our cylinder takes iso 22 hydraulic fluid. The stock fluid I found in the chandler was Iso 15 so I will change it when I source the correct viscosity. Iso 15 is approximately sae 5

[Steel sails]

A lot of French boats use the lecomble and schmitt systems. Recommended for them is ISO 15 wt oil. ( note ISO 15 wt is much lighter than 15 w engine oils more inline with 5W)
It's very frustrating to get a correct spec from a manufacturer.
I installed a 7000$ Hydrive system and they wouldn't give me the specification for a commercially available oil. Wanted me to pay the 900$ to airfreight their name brand stuff " specially formulated" in Australia. I declined their offer and I bought aviation quality ISO 15 wt as that was all I could find close to the specs. I suspect dexron trpe transmission fluid would have been fine . I found it quite difficult to find light hydraulic oil specified.
Regards
Paul

[Dave852]

lecomble and schmitt take iso 22 oil. Some people use transmission fluid and that seems to work. In the US I get the iso 22 from a small wholesale oil distributor that also sells to the public.


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[MIRELOS]

yes I know, but which one

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by MIRELOS

yes I know, but which one

Not sure if you are responding to me and if so which what :-) If it's which distributor: http://www.blaylockoil.com/index.html
If it's which transmission fluid: dexron iii . The iso 22 is clear, while the dexron will have a tint.


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[MIRELOS]

sorry about that, I was responding to Emmalina, but thank you Dave852 it may come in handy

[MIRELOS]

ok, the representative of Lecomble & Schmitt here in the states recommends Pennzoil DEX MERC ATF high performance automatic transmission fluid. I'll give it a try.

[monte]

Interesting. I'm having no luck sourcing LS or iso22 fluid in Martinique, even though L&S have 3 distributors here. All are suggesting the red ATF fluid such as shell spirax S2 ATF AX.
From my googling it appears to be ISO 32. I guess a higher ISO means a little more friction in the system. I'll email L&S for their thoughts.