Pilothouse Hydraulic Steering Help

[wbarrie]

Hey Everyone,

I have a Cooper 353 pilothouse. Both helm pumps are Wagner Engineering B1s. I’m trying to understand if both pumps need to be connected via a return line of some sort. I see a third line exiting the top of my inside helm but nothing like this connected to the outside helm.
I’m not able to trace the entirety of the system yet.

I have a leak somewhere and I’ve noticed the steering was quite sloppy the last time I had the boat out. So I know I need to bleed the system and find/stop the leak, I’m even considering capping off the inside helm for now.

Would love to chat with other owners of this boat.

 

[colemj]

The two helm pumps should be connected with a non-pressurized fill or compensation line. This normally would connect the bleed/fill from the top of the bottom pump to the low pressure return near the bottom of the top pump, which should have the bleed or reservoir connected to its top bleed/fill. This is the usual configurations for dual stations at different levels.

If your steering stations are at the same level, then I don't know how they might be plumbed, as the interconnection wouldn't help with bleeding or air escape.

 

[wbarrie]

The two helm pumps should be connected with a non-pressurized fill or compensation line. This normally would connect the bleed/fill from the top of the bottom pump to the low pressure return near the bottom of the top pump, which should have the bleed or reservoir connected to its top bleed/fill. This is the usual configurations for dual stations at different levels.

If your steering stations are at the same level, then I don't know how they might be plumbed, as the interconnection wouldn't help with bleeding or air escape.

Got it! I think that makes sense. Yeah, my inside helm is about 3 feet lower that the outside helm. I'll need to trace the third line from the top inside helm and see where it goes. Thanks!

 

[SkiingSailor]

I think you should confirm that for Wagner helm pumps.

(We have Wagner helm pumps in cockpit and below an inside helm, plus ram... the fill is on the upper pump and is non-pressurized. The whole system is filled from the upper pump.)

Many mechanics here in BC very experienced with Wagner hydraulics. Used to be on every fishboat (and many still are).

 

[wbarrie]

I think you should confirm that for Wagner helm pumps.

(We have Wagner helm pumps in cockpit and below an inside helm, plus ram... the fill is on the upper pump and is non-pressurized. The whole system is filled from the upper pump.)

Many mechanics here in BC very experienced with Wagner hydraulics. Used to be on every fishboat (and many still are).

Do you happen to know any that you’d recommend? I’ll shoot Wagner an email as well.

 

[SkiingSailor]

Wagner, sadly, doesn't exist any more.
Mechanics who regularly work on fishboats would know.

I don't know Cowichan Bay. (Are there many commercial fish boats at Cowichan over the winter... if so, walk the docks.)

Folks at Campbell River as well as Sointula were knowlegeable. I'm sure there are many around down south... I just haven't needed them... yet.

[Several years ago, my super-dependable & very old Wagner autopilot died. Replaced it with a ComNav AP (great!) ... folks there (Richmond, BC) were very familiar with Wagner APs, etc.]

 

[wbarrie]

Wagner, sadly, doesn't exist any more.
Mechanics who regularly work on fishboats would know.

I don't know Cowichan Bay. (Are there many commercial fish boats at Cowichan over the winter... if so, walk the docks.)

Folks at Campbell River as well as Sointula were knowlegeable. I'm sure there are many around down south... I just haven't needed them... yet.

[Several years ago, my super-dependable & very old Wagner autopilot died. Replaced it with a ComNav AP (great!) ... folks there (Richmond, BC) were very familiar with Wagner APs, etc.]

Awesome - thanks for the info. Yeah the boat is at the Fisherman’s Wharf in Cowichan Bay and there’s always mechanics around doing work on fishing boats. I’ll ask around!