350 Mag Bravo 3 with poor power steering assist

[homelite]

On my 2007 bravo 3 power steering...it is too stiff to use. Unhooked the steering cable pin and it's free as can be. 1 finger steering. I think the spool valve is stuck. I tried prying on it a little and it moved the steering. How much should it move right to left? Do they stick? If so, I am thinking of pulling the unit and trying to free it up. According to the book they are not serviceable... Anyone that can share info please do. Also, I tried removing the nut for the cable. Do you need heat to do that? It's tight and I can't move it. Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

actuator may need to be removed and cleaned internally. not hard to do

 

[alldodge]

Is the slot on the cylinder straight up and down? Image "d"

 

[homelite]

actuator may need to be removed and cleaned internally. not hard to do

Thanks. The book says not serviceable... Does it come apart? I didn't look that close at it you as when in the boat it's hard. I ASSUME the "spool valve shaft" that the cables goes through should glide back and forth left and right, correct? Mine does not. If so, how far each way does it slide? Like 1/8" or 1/4" Just wondering what it should be doing? It was hard to do but I pried it with a pry bar against the lower ex pipe and the outdrive moved on its own so I think the pump is fine. My guess is a stuck spool valve? I'd just like to know what it should do when working properly?

 

[homelite]

Is the slot on the cylinder straight up and down? Image "d"

View attachment 390495

Thanks. It was not. I made it vertical with a wrench but it didn't help. Also, it won't stay vertical. What holds it vertical and why does it matter? Is it jus the steering nut that holds it from turning? Please see my above question regarding how much the spool valve shaft should move? I assume it should.... I just bought this boat and the previous owner said it was always like this. Very little assist. My VP 280 in my old boat was always one finger steer. This should be the same in my opinion.

 

[alldodge]

The valve moves very little, this is moved by steering cable coming from the helm

It was not. I made it vertical with a wrench but it didn't help. Also, it won't stay vertical.

Loosen nut "C" and then turn flats up/down. Remove wrench to make sure it stays that way. When it stays, in place put wrench back in place to hold slots, then use another wrench to tighten "C"

 

[flashback]

The valve moves very little, this is moved by steering cable coming from the helm


Loosen nut "C" and then turn flats up/down. Remove wrench to make sure it stays that way. When it stays, in place put wrench back in place to hold slots, then use another wrench to tighten "C"

It is a floating connection and will change over time but I found it can make a noticeable difference.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

The valve moves very little, this is moved by steering cable coming from the helm


Loosen nut "C" and then turn flats up/down. Remove wrench to make sure it stays that way. When it stays, in place put wrench back in place to hold slots, then use another wrench to tighten "C"

Probably one of the poorer designs when comes to things being aligned, They could have at least put alignment marks / or a keyed alignment in it instead of a "guesstimatem and hope it stays there".. JMHO...

 

[homelite]

OK. Thanks all. I understand and yes, that is a poor way to expect a shaft never to shift/turn. I believe my issue is the stuck spool valve. They should move easily, right? Any advice on freeing it up? It's impossible to pry in there so I think I'll pull the unit and get it in a vice.... Does it come apart? I'll sure try before buying another? Is aftermarket available? Just wondering just in case. I didn't see anything pop up when surfing the part number..

 

[Lou C]

I have heard there is a place that rebuilds the Volvo units down in Fla called 5 Starr marine they might do Merc units I guess you could call & ask. New is about $1000 reman is about half. Hope you have good access that is not an easy job. I replaced the one on my Cobra & removed the exhaust on both sides to gain access. A cotter pin pulling tool is needed to get the pins out on the steering arm.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Well, we had one that was frozen and we disassembled it .cleaned the valving ports and cylinder and it now works normally. Used a pin wrench to unscrew the front end and the 2 bolts on the rear end. and slide it apart. There are no serviceable parts in there but the holes for the valving we dirty somehow.

 

[Lou C]

perhaps wear particles from the P/S pump migrated in there
I have the old style one used on OMC and Merc with the separate control valve. These can be rebuilt, because the same actuators (with a different cylinder) were used on both Corvettes and unibody Ford products back in the 60s and 70s. I was able to source some new old stock parts for this so I can keep it going.

 

[homelite]

Well, we had one that was frozen and we disassembled it .cleaned the valving ports and cylinder and it now works normally. Used a pin wrench to unscrew the front end and the 2 bolts on the rear end. and slide it apart. There are no serviceable parts in there but the holes for the valving we dirty somehow.

With engine off, how easy should the valve push back and forth. Mine takes 2 hands and some effort.....

 

[alldodge]

With engine off, how easy should the valve push back and forth. Mine takes 2 hands and some effort.....

Been looking for something that would advise and found nothing in manuals of Bulletins that I have. Finding nothing I went out to the shop and got the one on my shelf. It is hard to push the tube in either direction. I placed on the floor and there is a stiff spring in there which brings it back to center position when force is removed

So if the nut is tight, the cable goes thru tube, flats in position and connects to clevis, should be good if PS pump is producing correct pressure

From manual
If Left and Right turning pressure readings are between 1150-1250 psi (7932-8621 kPa), but are not within a 50 psi (345 kPa) range, the Power Steering pump flow control valve is sticking or pump hydraulic system is dirty.

 

[homelite]

Been looking for something that would advise and found nothing in manuals of Bulletins that I have. Finding nothing I went out to the shop and got the one on my shelf. It is hard to push the tube in either direction. I placed on the floor and there is a stiff spring in there which brings it back to center position when force is removed

So if the nut is tight, the cable goes thru tube, flats in position and connects to clevis, should be good if PS pump is producing correct pressure

From manual
If Left and Right turning pressure readings are between 1150-1250 psi (7932-8621 kPa), but are not within a 50 psi (345 kPa) range, the Power Steering pump flow control valve is sticking or pump hydraulic system is dirty.

Thanks. I have several people telling me its the cable but it is so free when unhooked from the transom. 1 finger easy. I don't see how it can be the cable? Do you know a pressure tester set up for checking the pressure, like from harbor freight or something? When I help assist the spool valve the outdrive slams from side to side and the hoses jerk as you'd expect so its hard to believe the pump pressure is not there. Plus that I've worked on GM cars for 30 years and I barely ever remember one of those pumps going bad! I did find this and my spool valve is not this easy!

 

[alldodge]

Don't know of a kit kind of thing. Most cases is finding the fittings to connect to the gauge inline

With no load on the cable and disconnected it's free, but under load it may be binding. with cable off try to resist the cable from moving while another turns the helm

As Bt Doctur mentioned could take the cylinder apart and clean it

 

[homelite]

I just want to thank everyone. A new cable fixed it. Very hard to believe....because with the cable unhooked back at the gimble, it was able to be turned with one finger. I assumed it had to be fine. It must bind up at the helm rack unit with the slightest of load on it. I pulled the p/s unit off the boat and took it apart, but it was perfectly fine. So I got the cable and it's fixed. 1 finger perfect steering. I wanted to share....get a cable first! One thing I don't understand is the "flats" on the spool valve that they say has to be vertical, I can't seem to get it/keep it vertical but the steering works great. What's the engineering reason for that?

 

[alldodge]

One thing I don't understand is the "flats" on the spool valve that they say has to be vertical, I can't seem to get it/keep it vertical but the steering works great. What's the engineering reason for that?

The tube is pat of the valve. It has slots in it that direct flow to left/right side as it moves in/out

 

[homelite]

The tube is pat of the valve. It has slots in it that direct flow to left/right side as it moves in/out

I get that and saw that when I had the spool valve but keeping the flats vertical seems all but impossible and it steers fine with them at a 90 degree from being vertical. That's the part I don't get!

 

[alldodge]

Never had one move much at all once adjusted. The outer jacket should not move once nut at helm and cylinder is tight