cordialdevil
02-20-2010, 11:32 AM
On Black Gold, my 1995 38' Open, the throttle/gear control system is an -04 series manufactured by Hynautic/Teleflex. I guess that the same system or a close relative is installed on many Luhrs boats, so here some of my experiences: when I bought Black Gold 3 years ago, the shift handles were very stiff to operate. Checking the filter, which is at the base of the reservoir located on the after end starboard bulkhead, the fluid was thick and white. Unlike many hydraulic systems, these controls are not filled with an oil, but with an ethylene glycol (antifreeze)/distilled water mix at 50:50. Most important, the ethylene must be additive-free, particularly of silicates, which help to plug any leaks in a radiator but are deadly to hydraulic systems. Clearly, the previous owner had failed to read the manual when topping up the reservoir. The complete system and reservoir had to be flushed multiple times before the controls operated smoothly. The filter element was completely clogged and had to be replaced (part #160103). So when you are at the store to buy fluid, make sure the label reads additive-free. You can also buy ethylene glycol, additive-free, premixed, but I don't know for a fact that it is mixed with distilled water. Once you have settled on a brand, stick with it so that you are adding the same color to the reservoir.
Part of the system's regular maintenance is checking the reservoir for fluid (look at the sight glass for the present level that should be between 1/2 and 2/3 full) and pressure, which must read be between 70-90 psi. If the system leaks pressure quickly after a fill, but maintains fluid level, try replacing the air-fill valve at the top of the reservoir. This is a simple tire valve that can be purchased at your local bicycle or auto store. I recommend keeping both a spare air-fill valve and an air inflator on board for emergencies (a 12 volt electric pump is cheap and can be connected directly to the batteries).
Recently, I experienced a hydraulic failure on the starboard engine control. There was no leak of fluid. The culprit turned out to be a pinched o-ring on the seat of a valve in the charging valve block. This is an aluminum block that, on Black Gold, is mounted on the starboard side of the hull of the engine room and is connected to the reservoir on one side and the engine controls on the other.
Another problem that I experienced was a complete loss of gear control on the port engine while underway. I traced this to be a broken connection at the ball joint of the clutch slave. In plain english, this is in the linkage arm from the hydraulic control to the transmission. On my Yanmar 420D diesels, this is located on the lower port side of the engines. It is a metal bar that has ball joints located on either end, My quick fix (crawling over a hot engine was not easy) was to make a temporary connection with a plastic tie. Since the port engine connection failure, the same event occurred on the starboard engine control. This is obviously, at least it is obvious now, a weak point. A regular spray of lubricating oil on these connections helps to keep failure at bay, but you might want to consider ordering a spare to keep onboard.
I also recommend keeping the manual on board at all times. This control system is a complex piece of equipment and best left to the experts, but there are certain fixes you can do in an emergency. Of course, following the maintenance tips in the manual will help avert failure, as in any equipment. If you cannot find an answer in the manual, try calling Mike Grey at Hynautic customer support. Mike is very knowledgeable and helpful. His direct line is 941.388.7538
Part of the system's regular maintenance is checking the reservoir for fluid (look at the sight glass for the present level that should be between 1/2 and 2/3 full) and pressure, which must read be between 70-90 psi. If the system leaks pressure quickly after a fill, but maintains fluid level, try replacing the air-fill valve at the top of the reservoir. This is a simple tire valve that can be purchased at your local bicycle or auto store. I recommend keeping both a spare air-fill valve and an air inflator on board for emergencies (a 12 volt electric pump is cheap and can be connected directly to the batteries).
Recently, I experienced a hydraulic failure on the starboard engine control. There was no leak of fluid. The culprit turned out to be a pinched o-ring on the seat of a valve in the charging valve block. This is an aluminum block that, on Black Gold, is mounted on the starboard side of the hull of the engine room and is connected to the reservoir on one side and the engine controls on the other.
Another problem that I experienced was a complete loss of gear control on the port engine while underway. I traced this to be a broken connection at the ball joint of the clutch slave. In plain english, this is in the linkage arm from the hydraulic control to the transmission. On my Yanmar 420D diesels, this is located on the lower port side of the engines. It is a metal bar that has ball joints located on either end, My quick fix (crawling over a hot engine was not easy) was to make a temporary connection with a plastic tie. Since the port engine connection failure, the same event occurred on the starboard engine control. This is obviously, at least it is obvious now, a weak point. A regular spray of lubricating oil on these connections helps to keep failure at bay, but you might want to consider ordering a spare to keep onboard.
I also recommend keeping the manual on board at all times. This control system is a complex piece of equipment and best left to the experts, but there are certain fixes you can do in an emergency. Of course, following the maintenance tips in the manual will help avert failure, as in any equipment. If you cannot find an answer in the manual, try calling Mike Grey at Hynautic customer support. Mike is very knowledgeable and helpful. His direct line is 941.388.7538