Are you sure it's hydrolic? My 73 Gibson 36 is not. Just cable steer. Twin Chrysler 225's with Volvo Penta outdrives.

Hard to say without knowing what you have but if it's hydraulic, I wouldn't put anything in it besides hydraulic steering fluid or ATF.

Not sure what you're doing with Gibson but I've never seen them be anything but helpful.

Edited: 12/14/2007 at 04:12:07 PM by Dave

I'd contact Teleflex. I could be wrong but think they have merged with Morse and handle that sort of stuff.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Ted...I have a 1980 Gibson 42 with dual station hyd steering and my top station was free wheeling on me.  West marine sells teleflex hyd steering oil that is suppose to be just for our units.  That "plug" behind the wheel is where you use a small funnel and top it off.  I am not a mechanic but you might start on bottom station,close the plug and repeat on top station.  Might get a little messy so use rags underneath and spin the wheel a little as you add fluid....this worked for me!

While you're at it find the leak.... that stuff doesn't "evaporate".

I'm just glad you didn't discover this problem while you were coming down the river dodging tows.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

If you're going to bleed it don't start at the lower station. Buy a fitting for the upper station with a tube attached and bleed it from the top as you fill it.

And like stmbwle said; find the leak, could just be a loose fitting.

Methinks it'll steer better next time you get to go out, too.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Ted,  Did you bleed the hyd system or by adding fluid did it cure it?  If you bleed it, what type of fittings did you find to mate with the filler hole?

Also, as a Gibson owner what spots on your boat did you find any wood rot?

I am almost afraid to jump in here since I have been accused of being a schill for Gibson. My mother always taught me as a child that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar and it has proven true in all aspects of life. So when I call people like Gibson I always begin by saying that I am a pitiful, ignorant fool who needs someone to save me and I have been told that this person I am calling may be the only one on earth that can save me. Most everyone wants to be a hero and they bend over backward to help. Now as to that steering you have been told correctly that it fills from the upper station which seems to be the only one you have. That is because air will ultimately rise to the highest point in the system but it may take some time for it to all get there because that system is longer than any car you ever worked on. Never seen one configured like that. Must have been a buyer who wanted more interior living space and did not mind riding out in the weather all the time. Maybe the flybridge has full canvas. If I were you I would concentrate on finding that leak. It is likely in one of two places. Either right behind that wheel in the box or back at the stern where the other box is. Surely you can see that much oil collecting somewhere. It could be a slow leak over time which was not discovered until the level dropped to where you lost steering so in that case you may have never noticed if you allow water to stand in your bilge. I keep mine powder dry by using a wet vac after each outing. I might begin by just snugging up all the fittings. A boat does a lot of weird vibrating that a car never does because of its suspension and things can just work loose. Good luck and if you call Gibson again DO NOT mention my name!

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The Judge Rules

Judge it's pretty obvious in the PICTURE there's NO flybridge. I'm with you Ted I don't have one either. Here in FL it's called the "cancer station". I think you're on the right track... hook up the "IV" and keep turning the wheel till you run out of bubbles.... AND FIND THAT LEAK!!!

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Sorry, I never looked at the picture. I misread the message of 12/15 and could not figure out who had ordered such a boat. I do most of my driving from the lower station also and my dock neighbors say they have never seen anyone pull in a slip from the lower helm. They look up and see my boat going past the end of the dock and think some idiot has left the helm and the boat is on its own. I feel I can see more from the lower helm for docking because standing on my flybridge with the full cornice on a Standard covering the front deck I cannot see the front of the boat or the sides. Down below I can see it all plus AC. Only problem is no feel for the wind. To solve this I took two #6 screws and two finish washers and two 12 inch pieces of yarn and installed wind indicators hanging under the front cornice. At slow docking speeds I can see the wind.

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The Judge Rules

That's a great idea... I have a wind chime but while I enjoy the racket it doesn't do much as a weather vane. The yarn would be a great trick. THANKS!!!

From inside I can see the bow, down both sides with the rear-view mirrors and directly astern with CCTV. And I can easily get out to tie up. Maneuvering my boat would be nigh impossible from up top.

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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw