We Found The Problem & You Won’t Believe What Caused the Hydraulic Ram to Fail [Ep. 155]
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- We disassemble our autopilot ram and find the problem and it is not what we thought it would be! Can we fix it on board?
#hydraulic #problem #sailing #diy
We are surrounded by an amazing paradise, but stuck on the boat investigating problems with broken parts after our 4000 mile plus offshore sailing voyage from South America to French Polynesia. Join us as we dive into boat work, trying to keep our good old boat running!
Website/Blog: www.sweetruca.com
Support our video editing on Patreon: www.patreon.com/ruca
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![Why So Few Visit This Remote Pacific Island [Ep. 156]](/img/tr.png)
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UA-camrs understandably wonder if their content is interesting or not. For me, repair videos are especially compelling because it happens to all of us who choose to set off as you two have. Great stuff as usual. Thanks.
Hi I own a machine shop…your decision to replace the shat on your steering is absolutely correct. A magnet will tell you weather the shaft is stainless or regular steel…
Also make sure to understand what material the pin that broke is…you mentioned brass…that would be unusual…but brass being softer that the rod shouldn’t damage the shaft…
Good luck with your machine shop…any good Machinest should be able to make a new part.
PS I continue to enjoy your videos!!!
nice video, you got it right. Have a couple of shafts made, get a couple of sets of seals and you are good to go. Spares are a good thing now that you know the weak link. I'd also check the bore of the piston since it has to hold the hydraulic pressure too. It may have been scratched by the pin fragments stuck in the rod. Video quality is very good.
Years ago I had to replace min on our little sail boat. I drilled out the ends and just bought the aluminum tube. I know it can be hard to find on a deserted island for sure.
I got a kick out of Kate's comment on Uncharted waters since in my Navy career I was in Charge of Navigation. We actually went to areas back then in the 80s that had never been charted. We sent in our charting data and it became the first charted by the submarine I was on. James Cook was the only person close to where we were going and he was still off.
Love the seal work and auto pilot repair. Jim
They say that cruising is fixing the boat in exotic places as if that is a bad thing. Cheers.
Good climbing, Kate! Good fixing, Curtis! GOOD GIRL, ROXY! -Darcee
Nice exploratory disassembly and identification of root cause. I think you are correct in your idea of having a replacement made form an induction hardened chrome rod . Maybe go one size larger on the pin diameter?
Beautiful drone shots of island. Good troubleshooting on auto pilot ram. Looking forward to solution. Enjoy paradise!
I recognize that look on your face.... the racing smile when you are chasing a boat ahead :). The new sails look mighty good on Sweet Ruca.
I think you've outdone yourself as seekers of remote exotic anchorages! Beautiful video! Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Kate, you're a hell of a sailor.
You are getting better in every new magnificient video....I am always waiting for your great videos❤😂!!!!!!!
Thank you so much 😀
Drone shots were amazing!!
Seems like maybe there was a shear pin missing elsewhere in the system? That pin would be an odd place to design in a weak link...
I highly recommend Hydrovane. In addition to great steering in a large variety of conditions, you have an entire backup rudder. You can also connect an inexpensive tiller pilot to the vane and have yes another way to self steer. We carry 3 auotopilots; one large below decks, one wheel pilot, and a tiller pilot for our Cal 46 ketch. Once we installed the hydrovane, that became our primary steering. The speed difference with the new foil designed rudder pretty negligible. We also had a Monitor on another boat, but like the Hydro better. And a fully baked up rudder is a very good thing to have.
Loved the autopilot ram repair segment. Good content!
Working machine tool the process that was used to repair a shaft like would be to grind undersize and then chrome the rod and then grind to correct size. You need a very smooth surface for the seals to slide across, if it is too rough, it will damage the seals of the end caps of the cylinder.
Our try to find another damaged unit that would have a good cyl rod. You may also need to find a stronger set screw so you do not end up damaging the rod again? Hope this gives you something to think about.
Hello, good morning Miss Kate and Mr. Curtis.
Let's see, I see you working on that electro-hydraulic autopilot. Yes, I tell you my point of view regardless of everything put together and designed in the stern of Ruca. You will have to spend time and money every time that pilot breaks, which in fact IS NECESSARY but NOT essential.
Is it possible to install a Windvane pilot? You save money and time with electric ones whose wear and tear is noticeable.
You know quite a bit..
Good Luck Guys..
🇺🇲❤🇨🇺
Great episode, y’all. Thanks for all the explanations on the autopilot. Agree that having a new shaft and pin done at a shop on a later date is the best option. Happy to see that y’all have a spare part to keep sailing between now and then. Please stay safe out there and enjoy the local fruits. Yummy 😋.
Thanks for watching!
So beautiful !!!! Thanks for this !!! Great team , great repportage !!!😉
Yes - repair vid/sailing - way to go...love this. We all experience it, so it's nice to see other people's projects on the water.
Glad you enjoyed it
Lessons learned...
Except for the "bring spares", take video of disassembling!
You will definitely need it when you get hold of the new ram and have to reassemble all those tiny parts!!! 😉
You do realise they are filming this.
Hahaha🤣🤣🤣
Yes John, I do realize that!
But, as Curtis was saying to us the viewers (who may or probably don't have the same experience) to "bring spares", I was pointing out that it would be helpful to mention (to us) to take video of the process...
But good one mate! You made me laugh 😁😂😂🤣🤣👍
Good tip!
Great video as always. Wish you had described how deep the scratches are and, do the scratches extend beyond the seals at either end of the cylinder when the ram is in motion. If not, I would replace the shear pin, put it back together and put it to the test. Of course, You all are there. You know what you're doing, and I am setting at home drinking coffee enjoying the best sailing channel on UA-cam. Yall keep having fun and stay safe. Bill
Sheer strength of brass ....depending if is hard or soft ...205 - 531 MPa Average value: 274 MPa Grade Count:281.
I love sweet and salty Rucca!
I am great at taking things apart see the problem. Then comes the big problem putting the dam thing back together. Good luck mate.
Fascinating to see the insides of that auto pilot! Thanks for showing it. Seems like a solvable problem thankfully. Looks like a beautiful place too 😊
A fun project!
Y. E. A. H., glad you were able to diagnose the auto pilot ram ‼️🎉 Seems like being a bit of a mechanical engineer is helpful on a boat. Good job, Kate on getting a topping lift secured!! 👍🏻 Did our girl Roxy get a chance to get ashore when you went exploring??😊 See you next time. ✨ 🌊 💨 ⛵️ 🏝️ 👙 🌞 ✨
love that blue water
Well hate to be bearer of bad news but that shaft is toast, only way to fix is have it rechromed and polished and probably not worth the expense. Maybe when you get to Austraila might find some replacement parts and Kate had some unusual sailing outfits lol, good luck so jealous !
Hey guys, I've been watching your videos since before cape horn. i'm just wondering for tradewind sailing if something like a hydrovane might be a good backup for an autopilot. i know they're expensive and being mechanical parts they can also break.
It's nice to see, how you loved it.
Another sail and it's a race 😂
Thank you. Your vids are always welcomed.
Excellent work on the AP ram. The way I understand it, the scratches are to the right of the pinpoint for the piston so if the oil is only to the left of the piston, then there is no big risk?
That's a beautiful place, some contrast to Patagonia (both stunning locations)! And that's a very small pin!
It will be a big challenge to get that shaft sealed again. I don't know what max. pressure they work on (could calculate from surface area and max force), but the tiniest of damage makes hydraulic cylinders leak and ruin seals. Probably best to get a new shaft made, or get another ram for spares. Interesting to see the inside, I have a Robertson HLD350 MK1 found in the bin. Seems like it's never been mounted and working fine. Is yours a HLD2000? Probably a MK2, the MK1's are very old. Have to say the oil looked very dark, could be wise to change it now and then but that's not the cause of failure. I can't imagine they put a weak spot in that place on purpose, would have been nice to have a relief valve or something like that. Anyway, thanks for showing the disassembly, much appreciated!
Simrad Robertson auto pilot, made in Norway. I bought the last one. And have one in spare :-)
The machining is awesome, a high quality part. Very surprised the piston pin was the weak link though?
Russell will leave Puerto Montt today I didnt know that he's ingenner
Has Roxy been off the boat since you left South America?
A good machinist should be able to weld up or braze those scratches and then turn the shaft back to the original measurement specs
Hello just watched Hydraulic ram prob,just a suggest ,the piston that is on the shaft and fixed by the grub screw doesn't travel up the shaft that is damaged (scratched) arent seals on the outside of that piston and by re securing/replacing the grub screw the problem will be solved as the piston travels up and down the large cylinder ?
PS. if the grub screw is brass could be a safety feature in the product or replace with s/s screw cut to fit.When in doubt check with Manufacturer.
It will depend upon how much the piston is extended in use if their set-up doesn't push the scratched area to the seals then they are good to get a new pin reassemble & fill with new hydraulic juice!
I would make a pin from a bolt, hand machined, sand paper, files, hack saw, drill as lathe etc. Then smooth the shaft scratches with fine grit sandpaper then polish. Find something for polishing compound, such as your wife's cosmetics. That might get you by till a proper machine shop, or maybe longer.
They call that a shear pin for that reason.
yep that's just what they call a roll pin (super hard and need to be hammered in) do not sand it to much most hydraulic rams are chrome plated, your scratches if you can feel them with your fingernail they are more than 0.01 deep if deeper lite sand only there to remove burs. like even where you are you might be able to find a roll pin, use it as a spare till find a machine shop. (jb weld worth a try but do not skip on a roll pin, like dam they are common so about a dollar part) be safe
The shaft can be fixed using a fine grain file to "turn" the ridges of the groove back into the groove. A delicate job but it is the cheapest option. Second the groove can be brazed and rectified. Third option machine a whole new shaft. The pin can be made out of a brass brazing rod. Anything harder such as a drill bit is not good. It is meant to shear to prevent worse damage.
Funny, when youtubers introduce an unsuspecting visitor they are all looking like deer caught in headlights.
I am not a sailor, but is that not the point of the roll pin, to shear off rather than break the whole assembly, if it was meant to be locked there it would have a shoulder or keyway.
We aren’t sure? We surely aren’t hydraulic engineers, but our thought would be to design a failure point which is easier to fix offshore. Perhaps a pressure relief valve, or a seal, rather than an internal metal piece which upon failure could cause additional damage to critical components (shaft, piston, pump). It would be much better to blow out the fluid, and just have to fix a seal and refill will oil, rather than require a welder and lathe to repair. We can’t imagine an engineer would design the pin to fail.
Roxy is more on deck. The temperature down in The Magellan Passage I think he didn't like. I wouldn't have liked.
I’d take pictures as I disassemble. Just as backup.
👏👏👏
😀😀👍👍❤❤
cut the back of a drill bit as a pin
Ok for a quick fix but not a good idea in the long run. That pin is designed to be the weak link in the asembly. It should be replaced with a pin of equal tensile strength.
A good idea, would work as a quick fix.
when u dive off boat ankles\feet together and don't bend ur knees. kate ur a dumplin.
Two of the worst dives i've ever seen😂. Appart from that you're well.
Terrible dives off the boat - both of you🙂
🤣 haha that is accurate
@@SailingSweetRuca Good sports!