steering hard after replacing bellows mercruiser 3.0

[joysticks]

I saw this answer before last year but can't find it, help

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Need alittle more info on what's up, 'n which thread,....

 

[joysticks]

OK so let me start over. Since replacing the bellows on my mercruiser 3.ol alpha 1 gen 2, I can shift boat(altho reverse is harder to get into) and run it. Trouble is the steering is really hard. I spent a lot of time last year on shore because of this. Does anyone have any idea what I did wrong or what I need to check to fix the steering.

 

[joysticks]

Hard steering

I have a merc 3.0l alpha1 gen2 - the steering has become very hard. I don't see anywhere I would put grease. no place to put fluid. Any suggestions? I put some wd40 but no help.

 

[joysticks]

just delete this post if you can-I started over

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Changin' the bellows should have no bearin' on hard steerin',.....

Have ya disconnected the cable from the transom, both the clevis pin in the end, 'n the big nut on the aluminum tube,..??
Does the drive swing easily then,..??
Does the steerin' wheel turn easily then,..??
Can ya pull the cable back outa the aluminum tube,..??

Often, the cable corrodes inside the tube from a lack of grease when put together,....

 

[Rick Stephens]

Often, the cable corrodes inside the tube from a lack of grease when put together,....

Or I have seen white grease in the cable end that hardened over the years. Pulling it apart and cleaning, then lubing it, did the trick.

 

[joysticks]

ok guys thanks . I'll check it out tomorrow

 

[joysticks]

I was putting outdrive back together after replacing exhaust boot and one of my trim cylinders seems to be stuck in out position. any suggestions?

 

[joysticks]

got that fixed but I also disconnected the speedometer cable at the back of the engine and the outdrive swings easy whilk steering wheel is still hard to move. gonna try to disconnect cable from front and take a look.Oh and the cable seems like it would come out of tube easily.

 

[joysticks]

I'm wondering if it could be the rack and pinion steering?

 

[joysticks]

OK so I- through a series of the tests you described above concluded that it is my steering system so I ordered a 14 ft cable and will put it in when it comes. Thank you very much all. I get so much help from this forum.

 

[poconojoe]

It's power assisted steering right? Or no?
What about power steering fluid? Or power steering unit bad or seized? Belt slipping on power steering pulley?

 

[Grub54891]

Just replaced a power steering setup. The owner waited till the ram, and the cable were completely shot, lost all steering and did not know why. Cable seized, and steering ram leaking badly.

 

[joysticks]

well its rack and pinion steering and not sure where about power steering fluid.

 

[poconojoe]

well its rack and pinion steering and not sure where about power steering fluid.

Look for a power steering unit just like a car. A reservoir and a pulley run by the engine belt.

 

[joysticks]

I pulled the old cable out and am about to replace it, but I am confused . Is it really that cable? Could it be something in the transom? I put my finger in the power steering fluid and it seemed full. Trouble is I don't see a problem with the old cable.

 

[Grub54891]

Well, with the cable disconnected just at the hookup at the transom, you turn the wheel, and see if it feels stiff. If not, its usually ok. Just checking the fluid, don't mean the pump is working properly either.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Well, with the cable disconnected just at the hookup at the transom, you turn the wheel, and see if it feels stiff. If not, its usually ok. Just checking the fluid, don't mean the pump is working properly either.

Grubs right. Pull the cable off the steering at the back, clean it up and lube it. See if the wheel turns easily. If it does, the cable is fine. Most of the time hardened grease and dust has made the cable end stiff and this fixes it. Not very often is a new cable needed.