power steering doesnt work

[vref15]

I have a 1995 4.3l mercruiser. Recently i had to remove the engine to send to a machine shop to remove a broken starter bolt. The engine was out of the boat for around 30 days,and the power steering worked fine before i removed the engine and when i put the engine back in the power steering doesnt work. The pump sat dry for those 30 days without fluid and never ran it while dry. I put the engine in and hooked everything back like it was, I filled the resevor with fluid and it pulled the level down on first start when i added more. I can see fluid moving in the resevor when the engine is running but still no power assist. the links are free in travel. I also cycled the steering wheel about a hundred times thinking it was air, but it didnt help any. I wanted to pick brains before i start replacing parts to find the issue. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[alldodge]

Re: power steering doesnt work

Is it real hard to steer or just a bit harder to steer (high speed, low speed, idle)?
I'm sure you did but have to ask, did you did use ATF?

 

[vref15]

Re: power steering doesnt work

i used power steering fluid, its very hard to steer at all engine speeds

 

[alldodge]

Re: power steering doesnt work

It doesn't take many lock to lock steering turns to bleed the system, it shoud work. It should turn fairly easy but not as easy if the pump wasn't working at idle not in gear. With that looks like you need a high pressure gauge to measure the output. The pump is capable of putting out nearly 2400 psi Though in a boat it rarely exceeds around 400 or so and is regulated to 850 or 900 psi max for Merc's use.

I burned the pump up one time just by starting it without fluid in it, didn't take long.

 

[Bondo]

Re: power steering doesnt work

Ayuh,... I bleed 'em by turnin' the wheel lock to lock a couple times, Without the motor runnin',...

Also, it might be a coincidence too, that the cable corroded in the aluminum tube on the transom, while it was lain-up,...

That's the Most Common issue for tight steerin',...

 

[vref15]

Re: power steering doesnt work

i think i may have figured out the problem, not reading the book i used "power steering fluid" that i bought , come to think of it, when i put it in it looked like regular motor oil. it wasnt thin red fluid. could a heavier oil ruin the pump? i am gonna flush the system with dextron II tomorow and see if there is life left in it.

 

[alldodge]

Re: power steering doesnt work

i think i may have figured out the problem, not reading the book i used "power steering fluid" that i bought , come to think of it, when i put it in it looked like regular motor oil. it wasnt thin red fluid. could a heavier oil ruin the pump? i am gonna flush the system with dextron II tomorow and see if there is life left in it.

Power steering fluid is in most cases 10W oil and ATF is about the same but a bit thinner in some cases. The short time you had it in I don't see it causing a problem but this is old equipment. Also heaver oil for a short time would only cause it to work slower.

 

[achris]

Re: power steering doesnt work

You connected the lines up the right way around?

 

[vref15]

Re: power steering doesnt work

guys,
after replacing the power steering pump flushing the fluids and taking the power acuator off and checking it, found the stering cable to be tight without being hooked to anything. removed the cable and it was super hard to push pull. found in the rack and pinion a couple o-rings that were ground up in the gears. I cant find out what the o rings do other than possibly just keeps grease from working out of the gears out the ends of the gear housing. the gear box is stamped with do not dissasemble replace entire unit. any ideas what i can do to repair the line or should i just replace the cable?
big question is on a steering cable should you be able to move it freely by hand? or would it be kinda stiff?

 

[alldodge]

Re: power steering doesnt work

guys,
after replacing the power steering pump flushing the fluids and taking the power acuator off and checking it, found the stering cable to be tight without being hooked to anything. removed the cable and it was super hard to push pull. found in the rack and pinion a couple o-rings that were ground up in the gears. I cant find out what the o rings do other than possibly just keeps grease from working out of the gears out the ends of the gear housing. the gear box is stamped with do not dissasemble replace entire unit. any ideas what i can do to repair the line or should i just replace the cable?big question is on a steering cable should you be able to move it freely by hand? or would it be kinda stiff?

It should not be real hard to push pull the cable. Replacing the cable is easy enough but make sure the rack gearing is ok first. They probably still make the cable but if you have to replace the rack, then the one you buy may not use the cable you just bought. If your system is old enough I would suggest replacing everything with new and be done with it.

 

[achris]

Re: power steering doesnt work

If the cable is laid out straight, you should be able to pull and push it with minimum effort... Any more than that, get a new one. If you try moving it with bends in, then yes, a little more difficult.

 

[Bondo]

Re: power steering doesnt work

guys,
after replacing the power steering pump flushing the fluids and taking the power acuator off and checking it, found the stering cable to be tight without being hooked to anything. removed the cable and it was super hard to push pull. found in the rack and pinion a couple o-rings that were ground up in the gears. I cant find out what the o rings do other than possibly just keeps grease from working out of the gears out the ends of the gear housing. the gear box is stamped with do not dissasemble replace entire unit. any ideas what i can do to repair the line or should i just replace the cable?
big question is on a steering cable should you be able to move it freely by hand? or would it be kinda stiff?

Ayuh,.... Get yerself a New Cable, 'n Helm Kit,....