Hydraulic Leaks on Ranger 31CB?

[Orcasjane]

Hi, has anyone had any hydraulic issues with their boats? I have had my hydraulic fluid reservoirs go dry twice now, however, no leak is found. I have had the H fluid show up on the floor of the stateroom beneath the closet. The helm (which you can access the back of in this closet ) is not leaking. My mechanic thinks it could be leaking behind the refrigerator? Any one have any ideas on that?
Also I have had two different mechanics work on this issue and both have performed different procedures to replace the Fluid. I do not know which is correct?
1. The 1st took 2 days to flush and refill system. I have 3 steering stations on my 31CB. This procedure filled each reservoir at each helm. Let it settle overnight and topped off. I was good for about 6 mo (oct 2019 - June 2020) now empty again only using boat 3 times.
2. Mechanic at my home Marina Found the reservoir dry after I found fluid in stateroom and is filling only the main helm reservoir and says the H Fluid will be pushed to the other helms?? He also Traced the H lines and found no active leaks, unless it is behind the Refrigerator in the salon. I really need anyone’s help with this issue! Thanks so much for any assistance. Please feel free to call me to explain 307-413-8961.

 

[BradOwens]

The refrigerator is not difficult to remove. I would start with that since your mechanics couldn't find any leaks anywhere else.

 

[Sweet Peas]

Sweet Pea experienced a similar problem with H fluid on the stateroom floor, but the source was visually obvious coming from the main helm steering pump. Successfully refilled H fluid via the pump reservoir, for maintenance pending repair. Replaced pump, problem solved. Not certain how the H system was refilled post steering pump replacement.

 

[knotflying]

The best way to remove air from the system it to do it with a pump system that circulates the fluid. My initial thought is that if you are leaking fluid you would either see it somewhere in the cabin or near the pump. If it is leaking and going into the bilge It would work its way back and you would see it in the water. You may have to use the pump system to make sure all the air is removed, which what I would thing Ranger did initially. Let us know the final outcome.

 

[Orcasjane]

Hi, everyone one thanks for the responses. I went and had the boat annual maintenance done and the hydraulic leak looked into again. We pulled the fridge, no leak there. They Blew out all the air and refilled the system. The boat steered better than ever BUT.... no leaking after they added the hydraulic fluid or on my trip home but a week later 1 soaked oil pad I left in the closet was found and again yesterday another I had replaced in case of a leak. This new pad was soaked. 3 mechanics and no one can find the leak. So frustrated!!! Afraid to use the boat and lose all steering, which already happened to me once before🙁 HELP PLEASE ANY IDEAS WELCOME. THX

 

[Heronboy]

Hmm. My 31CB has also struggled with hydraulic steering leaks. While I haven’t solved my issues completely I’ll share my experience in the hope it gives you some pointers. Note, I only have two helms, not three like yours.

Shortly after our 2018 boat was delivered I discovered the fly bridge deck under the wheel was oily. I then found the fly steering reservoir was dry. Oddly, there was no obvious leak when I refilled it and worked the wheel back and forth. I took to regularly checking and filling it before boating and chalked the empty reservoir up to air in the lines slowly working its way out. I assumed the leaked oil was pushed out by the trapped air expending in the FL heat (the boat was delivered in winter and the problem arose during a hot spell after delivery) and pushing some oil out the cap. However the loss of steering one evening made me realize something else was going on. If I was just adding oil to an air filled system eventually it would be full and have no issues right? But here it was with no steering at all.

I called a mechanic recommended by Uflex and had him come out. He immediately found that the hoses fittings to the hydraulic steering cylinder attached to the rudder were loose. And all the oil I was adding? It was dripping into a semi-hidden well in the bilge formed by the stringers immediately under the cylinder. He tightened them up and refilled the system. Problem solved for that week.

When I returned some months later however, the fly helm deck was oily again. The helm reservoir was empty again but the bilge was dry of oil. Maybe my original trapped air theory was correct now that the leak was fixed? Out of curiosity I checked the cabin helm reservoir. Oil squirted out the moment I loosened the cap. Ok, that’s fine. I refilled the fly helm again and have taken a wait and see approach.

Over the next few visits, there was often oil on the fly deck just below the helm. No oil on the backside of the helm however so nothing going on there. Also, careful examination revealed it wasn’t coming out the vented cap either. It seems to come out of the seal where the steering wheel shaft enters the reservoir. I ordered a seal kit from Uflex but have yet to install it. When I get more than an hour’s free time in FL I’ll pull the steering shaft and replace it.

I wonder if your issue is loose fittings but at the fly helm instead of the bilge like mine. The hoses go from the upper to lower helm and pass near the closet area. Any leak could follow the hoses and end up behind the lower helm, potentially settling in the area you found. Alternatively, you could have damage in the hoses where they pass thru the cabin roof from the fly helm. That looks like a chafe point to me.

I know it isn’t a solution but I hope my experience helps you track it down.

 

[Heronboy]

Oh, forgot to mention. Make sure you are checking the auto pilot power unit too. It is part of the hydraulic circuit. The mechanic I had come out mentioned those are often the source of hydraulic oil leaks, though in my case it was not part of the issue.