TEST SETUP FOR HYDRAULIC HELM

But the good news is I hooked up the old (original) Crowell hydraulic helm station in a manner that allowed me to test it - i.e. a very short hose connected between two shut of valves connected to the two lines of the pump. (Only took me about 3 months to come up with that easy test solution - was really afraid to test it for fear it would fail). So it took a while to get the air out of that very limited system (see photos), which was a valuable lesson and data point. I opened both fill stations - one is on one side of the pump, and the other on the other side, stuck a funnel in one side, and filled till it came out the other - and then a few more full back and forths, and eventually it stopped bubbling air out. I could feel the difference in the wheel "friction" as the pump filled, but could not see the fluid flowing thru the clear hose, so was still wondering. Then I shut off one of the valves and the wheel immediately would not turn!!!!!!! wahlaaa! The pump is still working, up to this point. Now I will invest in the hose fittings to connect it into the other helm station. It is probably worth while to remember that originally there was a by pass valve connected where I put the two new shut offs (shown in photo). The original bypass was to allow the hydraulic system to be bypassed so the quadrant steering (mechanical) would work. However, now, instead of a mechanical and hydraulic combo, I have two hydraulic helms. And here is a critical idea. The original Cromwell was pre check valve, so the two manual ball valves you see serve as the check valves. (the other helm station, built after the introduction of internal check valves, doesn't need the manual ball valves - it shuts off automatically). The other critical idea is that I still need a bypass valve in case the hydraulic system fails, and I have to use my emergency tiller. The bypass valve is installed right at the hose intersection, very near the slave cylinder, of the two hydraulic helm station hoses. Will post a picture of that when the hoses are complete. The by pass is nothing more than two T-fittings with a shut off valve between them.