My power steering hose burst 2x!!!

[jaandri]

So I took out a newly purchased boat on Memorial Day for the first time... Its a 1990 Thundercraft, with a 5.0L Mercruiser and...

Here is what Happened:
I lost Power Steering after about 1 hour of boating, I quickly discovered that the LOW PRESSURE line had burst and all the fluid all leaked into the bilge...

I purchased a new 3/8" hose and new hose clamps and installed the hose while docked at the Marina... I filled the resovoir back up and after about 5 minutes, the line blew up again spewing fluid everywhere...

I am not an expert, but I am fairly certain that its the low pressure side, for the following reasons:
1)The end that goes into the hydraulic has a fitting with the bigger nut (as compared to the high pressure side)
2) The other end fits on the cooler with a simple hose clamp

QUESTIONS
Is a blockage causing the pressure to build up on the low pressure side?
Any ideas on where/how to identify the blockage?
Did I cause any harm to the power steering system by boating without any fluid in the resevoir?

 

[Bondo]

Re: My power steering hose burst 2x!!!

Ayuh,... That's the low pressure return side...

It could be blocked up in the cooler, as that's All there is in that line...
It goes from the actuator, to the cooler, to the pump's tank...

 

[jaandri]

Re: My power steering hose burst 2x!!!

Thanks! Knowing the flow at least helps - I agree that the cooler would be the place to start since the line blew up before the cooler both times...

For my other question, is the pump/resevoir trashed? I figured I could continue w/o power steering for awhile so I ran at least 3 hours without fluid in the system but I stopped when it made a few screeching noises...

 

[Bondo]

Re: My power steering hose burst 2x!!!

Thanks! Knowing the flow at least helps - I agree that the cooler would be the place to start since the line blew up before the cooler both times...

For my other question, is the pump/resevoir trashed? I figured I could continue w/o power steering for awhile so I ran at least 3 hours without fluid in the system but I stopped when it made a few screeching noises...

Ayuh,... Donno....
Fill it up, 'n Try it...
Pull the hoseclamped hose off the Pump, 'n direct it into a container..
Take the cover off the resivour, 'n be ready to pour in a quart...
Have somebodyelse start the motor, 'n at idle, rotate the wheel, lock to lock...

Do it so's ya can eyeball the expelled fluid,...
You'll know when to stop, hook everything back up, 'n top it off...

If nothing comes outa the hose, the Cooler has to be plugged...