No powers steering

[mr300z87]

For the last couple weeks I have been prepping and upgrading my 1989 Invader in preparation for boating season. Serial #s in signature. The upgrades included replacing the old corroded warn out steering ram with with a new style ram. Last Saturday I launched the boat but because of bad weather only powered up just outside now wake zone to make sure the engine was running ok then returned to my friends house where I keep it. All seemed ok. Yesterday I took the family out to Tieces shoals a local hang out spot in Barnagat bay. It's was packed lol. Anyway I noticed about half way there that my power steering did not feel right actually I had no power assist at all and on the way home notices that it was getting hung up which was kinda scary. We made it back safely. My question is do the new style steering rams fail? I bought it used and do not know it's history. Is there any way to test it without the gauge set mentioned in the service manual? The pump is original and was working fine with the old ram so is do not feel it is the problem, also there does not seem to be any differences in pumps for new or old rams as the same pump part no are listed. So the old pump should work with the new ram.

I have another steering ram that I bought for my Sea Ray project which I was going to try and install today. With the boat being in the water and also my new style dry joint exhaust (ie expensive elbow gasket) I can and do not want to remove the elbow which makes replacing the ram much easier. Other than this steering issue the boat ran great and we had an awesome day. I know I will get this sorted out and out on the bay again tomorrow. As alway any advice is appreciate. Have a great 4th

Mike

 

[Bt Doctur]

Are you sure the 2 flats on the tube are set correctly?

When your Power steering issues Goes full right...

 

[mr300z87]

Thanks for the response, Please elaborate, as I am not sure what you mean???

 

[Bt Doctur]

page 5-2 http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/97/97hs5.pdf

 

[mr300z87]

Yesterday I went down to the boat and first checked as stated above. This did no resolve the issue. So I removed the ram only spilling minimal fluid in the bilge and replaced it with the one from my project boat. After bleeding off the air per the merc manual it seems to be working. I only took it out for a brief ride yesterday afternoon and then a 1/4 mile slow cruise with max people on board out to watch 360 degrees of firework surrounding the Barnagat bay. Today we will going out for a true ops test but all seems well.

When time permits I am going to take apart the non working unit to see what make this non serviable unit tick. Lol. And now I need another one to put back in project Sea Ray.

Have a great Sunday.

Mike

 

[mr300z87]

Went for a nice ride today and having functional power steering is a beautiful thing. Then after we got home the wife and daughter left me home by myself so I put on some of The Grateful Dead Music from last nights Chicago show and took the non working unit apart. They say these are not serviceable but there is nothing to them but a couple of O-rings, Here is a before and then disassembled photos.




The piston has what looks like a Teflon o-ring, and it does not slide freely in and out of the cylinder, although everything look OK. The fluid that came out look a little cloudy. I am wondering if this unit was left outside and was rained in.

Next trip to the boat I am going to check the fuild to make sure it is not also contaminated from this unit and possible change fluid again even though it makes a big mess. :faint2: Better safe than sorry.

Hope someone finds this informative!!

 

[mr300z87]

So I kept digging and this is what I found.



I now understand why the tube needs to be oriented as stated above, this lines up the channels in the valve and in the valve assembly I found milkshake, the valve which includes the tube in the rigth hand side of the photo that has channels machined it in, is spring loaded and it must slightly slide port and starboard (about a 1/4 inch) with the movement of the cable to actuate the power assist piston. You can partially see the channels and the spring on the tube in the photo. I did not check this before dis-assembly but I bet it was not moving freely and opening and closing the valves, hence no power assist. I did not see any corrosion so I cleaned it all up, lubed all moving parts and o-rings and re assembled. Might even give it a try in project Sea Ray before I go and buy another one.

BTW this unit is very simple to take apart and put back together and is very service able although it so simple it should never need service. Another note this is a good upgrade from the old style ram and the steering seems a little more responsive and less sloppy, although my old unit was pretty tired especially the ball joint with the tapered shaft. Unfortunately these are not direct swaps as the ram end hose fitting are different and the clevis pins are slightly longer or shorter I can't remember. Thanks MerCruiser.


Anyway I am a Happy iboater today, the boats is in the the water, running great and we used it all three days this weekend.