Leaky steering bleed valve

[dclagett]

One of the bleed valves on my steering ram is leaking out of the bleed tube. I tried tightening the valve with no success. I replaced the valve with a new one and the leak persists. I have ordered a new tee fitting with bleed valve, however I understand that removing the old tee is difficult if not impossible without breaking the tee.

Has anyone had a similar experience and what did you do to solve the problem.

Thanks

 

[BB marine]

Do you have tee fittings like the ones in my photo?
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=68972&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

This is a brass Tee 1/4" NPT going into the cylinder and 3/8 compression fittings. The bleed valve seats against the flair surface of the fitting. Normally when tightened it doesn't just start to leak. I have had the bleed valve leak after bleeding the system. The two reasons for a leak are (1) when bleeding the system a small particle dirt, brass burr, dirt is laying on the seat and preventing the seal. Complete removal of the bleed is required, wiping the tee fitting seat and the bleed valve taper then an inspection to confirm it is clean. reinstall, bleed the cylinder and tighten. The leak should be gone. (2) The bleed valve was tighten to tight and possibly galled the seat. This will require either dressing the seat to remove any high or low spots that create a leak path. If there is to much damage then replace the tee fitting and bleed valve. The tee installed in my cylinder is brass it should have been sealed with a pipe dope with Teflon. It is a NPT removal may be tough but unless severely corroded it should be removable. The fittings are available for replacement. If it leaks and the fitting is damaged then you don't have any other options other than replace it. It is in a difficult area to work on. It may be easier to remove the cylinder and remove the tee on a bench if you find it is going to break off.

 

[dclagett]

Brian, thanks for the response. You confirmed what I thought might be the problem. I hope it is just some debris from bleeding the system over a year ago when I replaced the helm pump. The interesting part is I did not notice any leak last season after putting about 100 hours on the boat.

If it is not debris the main concern I have is with breaking the tee off trying to remove it. The Uflex distributor in Florida told me the factory uses a thread lock on the tee pipe thread and also in the installation manual of the ram warn not to change the position of the tee do to possible breakage.

Well a new ram is only about $370, so it’s the price of owning a boat.

Thanks again

 

[Cutwater28GG]

misery loves company. my cockpit helm started leaking out of the bleed hold on the wheel pump. anybody had this. I'm assuming the O ring has gone bad and needs to be replaced.

any recommendations for places to buy replacement parts?