How To Replace SeaStar Hydraulic Steering Seal Glands and Flush Air Out

In this video I show how to replace the Seastar hydraulic steering seals and flush the air out of the system with tools from Marine Tech Tools. This method of bleeding the air is simple and does NOT require you to put a hole in the (very expensive) bottle of hydraulic fluid. Easy DIY for most that are handy with tools!
Here is a link to Marine Tech, where you'll find the tools I used in this video plus much more:
marinetech.com/
SeaStar Seals From Marine Tech: tinyurl.com/yc822cju
You can also find these tools and other supplies on my affiliate links below:
SeaStar Hydraulic Fluid: amzn.to/3KJUpJx
Marine Tech Bleed Tube: amzn.to/3xupz3u
Marine Tech Filler Kit: amzn.to/3JKvN1Z
Marine Tech Bracket Puller: amzn.to/37R4tl3
Please visit out Amazon Storefront where you'll find many of the tools and materials we use in our outboard motor videos.
www.amazon.com/shop/josesextr...
00:00 Introduction
00:28 Protecting the Gelcoat
01:00 Breaking the Seals Free
02:10 Removing the Steering Shaft Bolts
03:06 Removing the Support Rod Brackets
04:26 Removing the Seals
05:03 Installing the New Seals
06:10 Reinstalling the Support Brackets
07:38 Changing the O-Rings on the Bleed Valves
09:17 Torqueing the Seals to 50 Ft-Lbs
10:34 Attaching the Marine Tech Bleed Tube
11:11 Prepping and Attaching Marine Tech Filler Hose
12:25 Bleeding the Air Out of your Hydraulic Steering
14:40 Wrapping it Up
#Boat
#SeaStar
#HydraulicSteering

[@adam8612]

Super helpful thank you, did it today. Had a leak. Easy/ messy job, i actually had the nurse wife bring home a bedpad (for catching fluids) worked like a charm. Ready for season!

[@jasonzee8340]

thanks for taking the time in filming this fix for average joes like myself. I resort to KZbin to fix as much as i can so i can afford to take my kids out on the boat. I use the mechanic for bigger jobs. thanks again … this was really helpful and to the point.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad it was helpful to you!

[@stevedooley4838]

great video, very straightforward and easy to follow. Marine Tech is a great source for parts, tools, and advice.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Much appreciated!

[@billbierbower9216]

Thank you. Made my first time changing seals straightforward and easy

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad it helped!

[@rickwalt8767]

Great video. Very informative. Thanks for showing us how it’s done.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

My pleasure!

[@paulurmanski4745]

I have watched several other video's and yours is the easiest to follow. Parts list was also very helpful.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Awesome, thank you, glad it was helpful!

[@InshoreMafiaCaptainMarvinZ]

Thank you so much! This video was super informative and helpful. Fixed mine in 2 hours

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Great to hear! Glad it fixed it!

[@acproductsusa826]

Very well done. Thanks for the tips, and thanks for being specific and clear.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonszeman]

Thank you for making this video. Huge help for me.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad to hear it!

[@nickkostakis9600]

Great show and very well explained thank you very much from Sydney Australia

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

You're welcome

[@ANVAL125]

Thank You ! Great video you explained so well !! Greetings from Puerto Rico !!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@normanmair4042]

Excellent and informative video, thank you!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Very welcome!

[@aduboi1534]

I want to thank you for sticking to the job and explaining it well. I looked at 3 others before your video and got frustrated when they talked about how hot was, his kids, his life, his whatever, it was distracting and raised my blood pressure. Thank you again for just explaiining very well what needs to be done. Very professional.

[@dbgfishing3289]

Great video thank you for taking the time sir !

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Your welcome and thanks for watching!

[@douglaswilliams5794]

Thanks … replacing my seals tomorrow or Saturday…looks easy enough

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Not to bad of a job to do!

[@livinbytheocean2032]

Excellent video thanks!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

You are welcome!

[@randymudgett8098]

Thanks for the help. Well explained.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

You're welcome!

[@fallingupstairs1]

Thanks for the help!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

No problem!

[@noelrmiller]

Thank you! Just did mine today thanks to this video. One thing I did differently is I removed the bracket on ends of the arm before loosening seals which gave me plenty of room. Breaking the bolts free alone was easy as well. Broke one free then retightened the broke the other end free. First one was easy to remove holding the bar with my hand. The dirty part was adding oil - I like your set up way better!!! Very well done video - thank you!!!

[@Ed1Marine]

Nice and clean ang value info job, Thanks!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

No problem!

[@kerrydaniels1078]

Thank you. Very good video.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad you liked it!

[@AB-bg1or]

Great video. Thanks!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

You bet!

[@sj-xb4yz]

great vid!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Thanks!

[@chuckchuckiemanjenae631]

Great video did mine in hr no problems

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Glad I could help!

[@en2oh]

great video.... anyone know what the output pressure is for this pump? Am I correct that there is no limit to the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the helm pump? Thanks for any information.

[@davidmann1718]

Thank you

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

You're welcome

[@cubano4853]

Very nice video thank You so much….🙏

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Most welcome !

[@adriancaro8533]

Great video mane. Thank you. I'm ready to be a seastar seale replacement mechanic. 😂

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Go for it lol, thanks!

[@piletas2]

Awesome awesome!!!thank you

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

You are so welcome!

[@edbevier8847]

Will this tool you linked in a previous comment (Pin Wrench - K1017 - 35mm x 5mm) work for a yamaha 200? it is equipped with a sea star steering system.

[@marshall2368]

Hey i have twin 1998 merc 150’s im trying to set up the steering but i don’t know what steering kit to buy. I see you have a 2 stroke as well. Can you help me out? I think i just need one cylinder and a bar to connect them both right?

[@user-wk5pc4nf4l]

Great video, thank you! Does the air flush method work when filling a new system as well? I have watched several videos and they all use a container at the cylinder to pump out fluid and air into. How come? Are you the only guy that use the method shown in the video?

[@damienlosa2754]

Can I have the link for the clamp removal tool? Thank you

[@gregknapp3442]

Thanks for a super informative video. I was lucky and all the support braces came off easy and the seals were easy to replace just like you showed. Extra hands were helpful here. My question though is refilling. I used your method using the same fill tube and bleeder tube but I cannot seem to get enough fluid into the helm to fill the hoses and cylinder. Lots of little bubbles at the helm but much larger at the bleeder tube. Turned the wheel 30 times both directions at least twice and it just doesn’t fill. The motor now moves when I turn it but there is plenty of play especially on the starboard side. Did I miss something or do I have another issue?

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

I would try closing the two bleeder valves. I noticed that occasionally and wonder if having them too open lets the vacuum on one side suck in air.

[@gregknapp3442]

@@ExtremeDIYGuy Thanks for the quick reply. I thought having the bleeders too open might be the issue too so I did the quarter turn and was able to get fluid flowing better. However, while sitting at full stop starboard letting bubbles purge out into the helm bottle, I heard a pop and thought the marine tech bleeder connection just came loose but actually the bleeder tube busted open spraying fluid everywhere. Once I get another bleeder tube and another bottle of fluid I’ll try your suggestions. Thanks again for the video and reply here

[@bryanprince2708]

what size was the pin wrench you used? I noticed on MarineTech's site there are a few to choose from.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Here's a link to the pin wrench I used, 35x5mm marinetech.com/uflex-steering-cylinder-wrench-mt0009-mt0037.html

[@paulbriggs3072]

Well that was fairly clear- just about enough to make me (who is NOT good with mechanical things) suspect I should have somebody else do it. That bizarre tool /socket wrench combo alone used for breaking the seals free had me shaking my head. That and I don't have the extra pair of hands. (At least I'll save money on the tools that mechanic already owns.)

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Well said and appreciate your honesty.

[@chipparker4007]

Finally, a plain and simple video of what you asked for!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Thanks glad you liked it!

[@donesco2k1]

How about the internal shaft seal? That is the one bypassing pressure on my boat when it gets cold.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Same process but you pull the entire shaft out to get to the seal on the inside. You need to be extra careful not to score the bore when pulling the shaft out which could cause cross over leakage.

[@lsubooth]

Thanks for the great vid, got er done. Dumb question- how do you empty the fluid out of the bleed tube after you’re done? 😅.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Look at 11:42. I use that little connector to empty the tube out.

[@lsubooth]

@@ExtremeDIYGuy thx. my steering is solid for now thx for your help

[@GeorgeBeans-cf5uf]

Thank you, for a common sense repair

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

welcome!

[@parkdavis2079]

How do you know if this is needed or the solution? I mean I bleed my system and it always will get air back in system. Zero corrosion on bar and no hyd fluid leaking Anywhere. Can air get past seals without leaking fluid?

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

My seals were leaking pretty bad, you could see the fluid in the splashwell. Any time you change the seals you'll need to refill and flush. I imagine that it is possible for a seal to suck in air but not leak oil. Probably on whatever side is opposite the side that has the pressure on it if that make sense.

[@Marcos_reyna]

I used a pair of channel locks. And also didn't need pulley puller

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Channel locks will work but can mark up metal surface's.

[@jmar2229]

Thanks fir the video Why did you have to go this.. were you having issues?

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

The seals were starting to leak.

[@giuseppegatto6862]

thank you very much for the video, very clear and above all very very useful. I would like to ask where can I buy the oil seal replacement kit for my sea star HC5358. Thanks a lot again

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

I would check Marine Tech they might have the seals you need link down below. marinetech.com/

[@bahlol8372]

Is there a difference in the blue or orange seals? Thanks

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

I don't believe so I would check with the manufacturer to be sure

[@livindahdream92]

Information about….👍🏼

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

👍

[@linleyvanacore3036]

whats the point of using marine hydraulic oil? it's gotta be the same stuff minus the biodegradable factor yes?

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

I find the marine grade oil is more durable to marine conditions 🤔

[@fg146]

Glad to see a method that you don't have to poke a hole in the bottle making you then have a mess and have to transfer the remaining fluid to another container.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Yeah, that hole in the bottle method seemed pretty cheesy to me.

[@fg146]

@@ExtremeDIYGuy just replaced my end seals and your method worked great for purging the air by myself, thanks again!

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Thats awesome, congrats!

[@htownsfinest87]

That's what is confusing to me, my basic comprehension is that the air bubbles just keep cycling back and forth in that hose as a bridge. The other method I saw running each one on its own hose, and turning one side with the drain going into a bucket of fluid until you dont see fluid anymore 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ kind of stuck on what method in going to do.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

The method used in my video worked out great!

[@Jason-ws3cd]

Not sure if I should do 30 turns lol

[@bill6093]

I rather watch a pro do this.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Then why are you here commenting 😂

[@greauxpete]

Billdouglass...Don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out playah.

[@eoe6270]

English is hard.

[@user-sf3tq7cz5t]

I bet you cant even add some air to a car tire that is low!😂😂😂

[@rustyshakelford9777]

Thank you for the tutorial took me an hour.I bought that special pulled tool and didn’t even need it.2014 skeeter sl190 150 vmax Ps. I did not poke a hole in my expensive bottle of fluid either.

[@ExtremeDIYGuy]

Happy it worked out for you!