Capilano Hydraulic Helm - Ball-and-Spring Pressure Release System

[plottie]

Hi there
We have an old Capilano hydraulic helm, model 1021 which we can't find info for online anywhere. It has been pressure tested / serviced but they were not familiar with it and didn't touch the pressure releases - the two screws and lever in the centre of pic attached. We undid the screws and they hold down a spring onto a ball bearing which is a bit gunky.. Does anyone know about / got one like ours without the new 'inbuilt pressure release'? How is best to clean out the ball and gunk?

Our steering is still drifting, the teleflex steering cylinder has been refurbished and bench tested, the copper pipes joints have been resealed, after we used a cottonbud to remove some gunk it seemed to improve slightly - any ideas gratefully received !

Cheers
Heather & Neil

[plottie]

Picture now attached

[DeepFrz]

I think Teleflex bought out Capilano so maybe if you emailed them they would be able to help you.

info@teleflex.bc.ca

[speakeasy]

I don't know the Capitalino manual hydraulic pump. I have a Wagner pump and what you describe appears to be the check valve. It has a small steel ball and spring at each end and installs some friction and feel to the wheel, holding a bit of pressure for the current helm setting. The balls or their seats can become corroded and even a bit will allow fluid to bypass the ball held off it's seat by such crude.

I've had a this problem, and before finding a bit larger ball for one end, steering would drift 5 degrees in 10 seconds without correction. You'll need a brave (ok, even tho' I don't have a pump blow up and can't get parts) hydraulic man to clean, scour, and match balls for the check valve I think, but that is just my current understanding of my own problem. My problem, after putting a 11mm ball in a 10mm seat, is that there is no more drift but a bit of wheel bind and resistance still. Good luck.

[DeepFrz]

I'm not sure this will help you or not.

Flushing Hydraulic Systems

[plottie]

Wow, thanks for your thoughts. I can now go back to Teleflex with more specifics, our original request was perhaps vague to them as they wouldn't provide details of an internal plan...
Speakeasy - we hear you! Exactly the same scenario and reassuring at the same time, thank you. How did you get the ball out to upsize? Ours are topside and a capsize seems extreme...

[speakeasy]

My check valve runs horizontally on the pump. I took the pump out of the pedestal and to a hydraulic shop in Guaymas, as the marina guys wereno help. I watched him pull it using a pair of ring pliers



to pull out the locking ring on either side, then IIRC tapped out or pulled out a small piston that held the spring and ball. Couldn't find a 10mm ball anywhere unless I order 2000 of them from Hermasillo so I scrounged around various mechanics shop till I came up with one for a stop gap.

However, if your steering is wandering consistently, I suspect you have a blown seal in one end of your steering ram, I did and it wasn't apparent to me when I inspected it. The wagner factory rep nailed that when I first emailed him. That was the main cause of my drift, but wasn't what caused the stiff helm. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Jon

[sww914]

I've been going through the other end of my Teleflex/Capilano system this week. In reading the manual the main thing that they emphasized was cleanliness & cleanliness. They described a situation exactly like yours and attributed it to a dirty check valve. I called Teleflex in BC, Canada and they were what you would hope any company's customer service department would be. They gave me part numbers and told me where to get them (any West Marine) and they asked me to PLEASE call them back if I had ANY problems getting or installing the parts.

[boatman61]

This is the exact same system I have on my boat.. did you manage to get the parts okay.. how hard was it to sort out.
Have decided to do the work myself now the hand is working again..
Do not trust the to young guys who sent me off with a 'Claimed Okay' helm that failed 5 miles out.. had it lasted a day I'd have been in deep **** halfway between Sardinia and the Ballearics..

[boatman61]

PS; Email sent to UK agents in the UK.. will see what comes back.. however as I'm headed to Miami in the near future and parts are available there will do my shopping in West Marine if the info comes back in time.
YAAAY