Steering and the AP 300 pump

[cltamt]

My '94 Albemarle 247 is being repowered and we're replacing the factory powered cable/hydraulic steering system with a non-powered low pressure hydraulic system including a Furuno 300 AP ( octo 10-12) pump.

Can the steering system be bled without the octo pump functional? I intended to install all the electronics once the shop completes the repower and finishes installing the steering system.

BTW, the octo pump is mounted near the helm.

 

[kicker]

What do you mean by "without the octo pump functional"?

Typically, you would need power from the autopilot processor to be able to drive the pump left or right to bled the system during the dockside setup but if it was connected to some sort of manual steering, you should be able to move the pump left and right and bleed the system.

 

[cltamt]

I guess in an around about way that's what I'm asking. While accomplishing the repower, the boat yard is installing the helm, steering actuator, autopilot pump, and the hoses. I am actually going to install all the new Furuno Electronics including the autopilot myself. So what we're trying to find out is it possible to bleed the steering system without power to the AP pump?

If the AP pump has to be functional then I will need to install the rest of the system before we can water test the new engine.

 

[Johnny Electron]

Yes, whether you are using the bleed process of the pilot or an external power purge procedure the pump needs to be on. During power purge the valves must be open both directions to release all the air. I normally recommend a power purge because it is the fastest and best way to get all the air out of a system.