How to Increase the Pressure in a Marine Steering System
- 1). Remove the steering wheel nut, found beneath the center cover of the steering wheel, using an adjustable wrench. Pull the steering wheel from the steering shaft.
- 2). Install a larger-diameter steering wheel onto the steering shaft. Thread the steering wheel nut back onto the shaft and tighten with the wrench.
- 3). Drain the hydraulic fluid from the steering system into an appropriately sized empty container. Measure the diameter of the plastic hydraulic lines with a caliper.
- 4). Multiply the diameter of the plastic hydraulic lines. Multiply the diameter of the lines by 0.95 to calculate the diameter of the replacement hoses.
- 5). Slide a small container beneath the fittings on the hydraulic lines, one fitting at a time. Loosen the fitting with an open-end wrench. Remove the line from the system. Drain any hydraulic fluid remaining in the line into the container.
- 6). Replace the plastic hydraulic lines with reinforced hydraulic hoses of the new, reduced-diameter and SAE fittings. Use pipe dope, rather than pipe tape, to coat the threads of the fittings on the reinforced hoses with pipe dope.
- 7). Pull the cotter pin securing the clevis pin to the end of the hydraulic ram's piston, using a pair of needle-nose pliers. Tap the clevis pin out of the end of the piston, using a small hammer.
- 8). Remove the bolt holding the cylinder of the hydraulic ram in place, using two adjustable wrenches. Remove the hydraulic ram. Replace the ram with new hydraulic ram 5 percent smaller -- multiply the size on the large ram by 0.95 to calculate the size of the new rams.
- 9). Open the filler cap on the top of the hydraulic helm. Fill the hydraulic steering system with new hydraulic fluid until the fluid fills the helm.
- 10
Turn the ignition witch on and "work" the steering wheel. Check the fluid level in the steering system's hydraulic reservoir and refill, if necessary. Move the steering wheel and continue to check the fluid until the fluid level remains constant and correct.
Source...