B737-300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
During preflight checks did a Standby Rudder Check.  Rudders stiff and unresponsive.  Overhead panel indicated both Low Pressure light and Standby Rudder On light on.  Reset switch and tried another Standby Rudder Check with same results.  Checked for potential circuit breaker popped; but could see nothing.  Called Maintenance.  Mechanic checked circuit breakers and went to wheel well to look at hydraulics.  He returned; after lengthy discussion with Maintenance Control; realized he hadn't checked Standby Hydraulic Pump-Alt at P6-12-A-8 and Standby Hydraulic Pump-Norm at P6-11-A-8 behind First Officer's seat and at very bottom of circuit breaker panels.  Once reset; the standby hydraulic check was normal.  I'm not sure anything was written up in logbook.  I cannot remember.  I am making this input because it was brought to my attention by my most excellent First Officer that the standby rudder check is no longer required.  Well; I'm glad I did it that day and I will continue to do it in the future. At a minimum; we should inform our Pilot Group of the circuit breakers and their location.  We were close to swapping jets because of this event.  Also; I'm not sure why this ten-second check of the standby rudder system was deleted from our AOM; but it is my opinion it should be placed back in the AOM as a preflight item; at least at the start of the day and done by pilots when they exchange aircraft.  And; oh by the way; it would have been challenging to say the least if we'd gotten airborne and had a problem requiring use of the standby hydraulic system for our rudders.  Just food for thought!
A B737-300 Captain was unable to perform an acceptable preflight Standby Rudder Check and maintenance found Standby Hydraulic Pump-Alt and Standby Hydraulic Pump-Norm circuit breakers out. This preflight system's check is not required so the Standby Rudder capability may have been unavailable for some time.