How long should my steering cylinder seals last?

[robster]

The hydraulic seals have gone bad on my SeaStar Teleflex steering cylinder, I'm afraid to buy the kit and replace the seals myself, I've hired a marine mechanic to do the job. How long should theses seals last. My boat is a 2011, it's 3.5 years old with a Yamaha 150HP outboard with power assisted steering. I keep my motor raised out of the water during the non-freeze months and tilted into the water during the freeze months, our boat lives in a wet slip year-round. Keeping the motor raised will that cause the steering cylinder seals to go bad? Also I don't see any pitting on the chrome cylinder rods, my boat is in fresh water.

Thanks,
Robert

[cwag911]

Shouldn't that be a warranty issue? What's the warranty on your boat? I'd be making some calls.

[robster]

Seastsar Teleflex warranty is only good for 2 years, my boat is 3.5 years old. From reading other forums the seals usually fail at every 3 years on the Seastar Teleflex steering hydraulic cylinders. I bet a lot of folks here have Seastar Teleflex systems.

[cwag911]

Our boat is 8 years old and still ok. How long is the warranty on your boat (Manitou)? Bennington covers from bow to stern during their warranty, which is now 7 years. Bryan knows some people at Manitou (bryden24shp) maybe he can help.

[Bryden24shp]

My Manitou's also started leaking at the seals about a year after I bought it. Teleflex sent me a seal kit and spanner wrench for free, I just replaced them myself. Its very easy to do. Hardest part is filling the helm with oil. I used a turkey baster syringe.

[jafo9]

mine were several years old and some vigorous tubing finally did them in. its not a hard job, bleeding was the hardest. i had a hard time getting to my bleed valves and couldn't bleed them into a tube/bottle setup like my car brakes. made for a messy day as i kept taking squirts of hydraulic fluid on my clothes.

[robster]

Thanks Guys, I called Sea Star Teleflex and they were extremely nice and will send me a seal rebuild kit for free! even though my boat is 3.5 years old.

Cheers,
Robert