Richey rich
Active Member
- Sep 23, 2012
- 393
- Boat Info
- 2010 Sea Ray 450 SunDancer
- Engines
- Twin 480 Cummins w/Zeus pods
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Thanks for the reply, it’s scheduled to go into the dealer tomorrow. Their thoughts are that the power steering actuator seal has failed. Seems to be not that uncommon, I have 3rd gen pods (JH). This will involve hauling the boat out, removing the lower pod and maybe a little more. I’m having them do both sides as a precaution in hopes that it keeps me on the water and out of the shop. I’ll let you know after they dig in.I see not many have replied to this post. Hmmmm. My understanding is that when hydraulic fluid drops and gear fluid rises, there has been a breach between the two systems. This breach can occur if transmission fluid escapes (and thus drops causing the alarm) and commingles with the gear oil side. One way this happens is if the 'cup seal' in the transmission fails and allows hydraulic fluid to move over to the gear oil side. I am unsure where the two sides share a common interface. If this is the case, it is not good news as it may mean a new transmission or at least a removal and repair. Of course, I am no expert and there may be other causes but the earlier pods had this issue. Mercury later improved the 'cup seal' interface to prevent this problem. Keep us posted.
Those seals are so heat challenged. I really wish Mercury had used a super high heat rubber compound. 7k is reasonable and you will rest easier now that they both are new.
boat has been at the dealer a couple days now. They have in fact verified that my problem was the starboard steering actuator seal failed. i am having both sides done as a precaution so that i am not down again any time soon, the dealer is being semi-reasonable and doing the entire job for $7000. I will be back in the water for the weekend and hope to enjoy the rest of the summer there...
Those seals are so heat challenged. I really wish Mercury had used a super high heat rubber compound. 7k is reasonable and you will rest easier now that they both are new.
thanks for the reminder! I will call him now to mention.Agreed That is a win!
@Richey rich
Just a gentle reminder to ask your guy about turning those FRP tubes so that there is more water going through the actuator and less out the side of the boat.
thanks for the reminder! I will call him now to mention.
So far everything is great!! Enjoying our Memorial Day weekend on the boat. Turned out to be gorgeous. No issuesHow did you make out @Richey rich ?
I spoke with my cummins guy and he confirmed what i had mentioned about the exhaust tube.
I'll probably leave mine as they are at this point and look to remove the hose and turn it closer to 8pm rather than the 7ish I am now on the stbd side.
One question I do have. Shop told me to watch the drive lube monitor to make sure if there was an air bubble and dropped to full. Sure enough both have dropped. You just add straight weight 90 correct to the monitor. Bring it up to the cold fill after sitting all night?How did you make out @Richey rich ?
I spoke with my cummins guy and he confirmed what i had mentioned about the exhaust tube.
I'll probably leave mine as they are at this point and look to remove the hose and turn it closer to 8pm rather than the 7ish I am now on the stbd side.
Too little use can be just as bad as too much.
Just curious, when were the pods seals done last?
Trim actuators aren't an inexpensive part, if i recall getting both done was ~6.5k including installation. And i take it back, I did have to haul it out for that. Apologies.
My actuators were original and were not leaking when i surveyed the boat (which had ~250hrs on it in early 2020) and in July one of them started to leak. I thought I would have gotten the season out of them but knew it was coming. I replaced the other side at the same time.
What is the condition of your mercathode system? A cheap, easy upgrade to your mercathode controller is the one with the LEDs
https://www.partsvu.com/mercathode-contrl-8m0100517.html
I did mine and turns out one of my dock neighbors was leaking voltage. He had a bad ground.