JJBoatr
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 144
Hello all,
I'm new forums and I hope I don't screw this up too bad so here goes. As stated in the title, the power steering on my Mercruiser 5.0 has a chatter at the steering ram if you change direction quickly or get within a half turn of the wheel from the stop in either direction. I have followed the bleed procedure over and over again until no air has bubbled up into the reservoir. Steering takes the same amount of effort whether the engine is running or not and it is not excessive effort. If you pull the cap on the reservoir with the engine running the fluid does not appear to be moving at all even when the wheel is moved. Comparing the feel of mine to my brothers OMC Cobra P/S I dont' think my system is working at all which gets me thinking the pump is to blame. I bought the boat with a bad engine caused by improper winterization and I put a new long block in it last summer. I did however make one mistake...I forgot to re-fill the power steering pump reservoir before the first run on the hose.:facepalm: I ran it for about fifteen minutes with the system empty...fire away, I deserve it. All joking aside, could the pump be cooked? I have always known those Saginaw pumps to be near indestructable on a vehicle. Are there any other possibilites as to the cause of my steering issues? All help is greatly appreciated and I look for to your inputs. I've been reading this forum for a few months now and you guys are spot on with your info.
I'm new forums and I hope I don't screw this up too bad so here goes. As stated in the title, the power steering on my Mercruiser 5.0 has a chatter at the steering ram if you change direction quickly or get within a half turn of the wheel from the stop in either direction. I have followed the bleed procedure over and over again until no air has bubbled up into the reservoir. Steering takes the same amount of effort whether the engine is running or not and it is not excessive effort. If you pull the cap on the reservoir with the engine running the fluid does not appear to be moving at all even when the wheel is moved. Comparing the feel of mine to my brothers OMC Cobra P/S I dont' think my system is working at all which gets me thinking the pump is to blame. I bought the boat with a bad engine caused by improper winterization and I put a new long block in it last summer. I did however make one mistake...I forgot to re-fill the power steering pump reservoir before the first run on the hose.:facepalm: I ran it for about fifteen minutes with the system empty...fire away, I deserve it. All joking aside, could the pump be cooked? I have always known those Saginaw pumps to be near indestructable on a vehicle. Are there any other possibilites as to the cause of my steering issues? All help is greatly appreciated and I look for to your inputs. I've been reading this forum for a few months now and you guys are spot on with your info.
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. I will run this cable for the season and get a new one next year. Are there any tricks for loosening these things up once they have corroded like this? Or is it like every other boat cable in that once it goes bad, it's done(I think I know the answer)? Also...What would be a good preventative measure to take against this corrosion once I get my new cable? I've heard of the soak in a tub full of ATF trick. Are there any others? Thanks for all the help. Nice job hittin the bullseye on this Bond-o.