I just joined the forum. 
I have a 1989 Wellcraft Eclipse 233. It has a Mercruiser 5.7 Litre V8. I have had it a few seasons and just noticed that it had power steering. However, the power steering is not and has not been working. No wonder it is hard to steer. Anyway, I was wondering if the issue is with the power steering pump, the steering cable, or the ram linkage (or whatever its proper name is) that attaches the steering cable to the lower unit. When the engine is on there is no change in ease of steering and I looked in the power steering pump/reservior and there was no movement of power steering fluid whatsoever. The power steering pump is located on the upper front of the engine and has a high pressure tube and a return tube which goes and comes back from the linkages behind the engine. I have attached a picture of my boat, the power steering pump, the bracket where the power steering pump was located on my engine, and the linkage/ram. I was just going to replace the pump until I saw how much more expensive a marine power steering pump is than an automobile power steering pump (why is that?).
Anyway, looking for direction and advice on how to proceed with getting power steering working again! Please help.
jluxor
I have a 1989 Wellcraft Eclipse 233. It has a Mercruiser 5.7 Litre V8. I have had it a few seasons and just noticed that it had power steering. However, the power steering is not and has not been working. No wonder it is hard to steer. Anyway, I was wondering if the issue is with the power steering pump, the steering cable, or the ram linkage (or whatever its proper name is) that attaches the steering cable to the lower unit. When the engine is on there is no change in ease of steering and I looked in the power steering pump/reservior and there was no movement of power steering fluid whatsoever. The power steering pump is located on the upper front of the engine and has a high pressure tube and a return tube which goes and comes back from the linkages behind the engine. I have attached a picture of my boat, the power steering pump, the bracket where the power steering pump was located on my engine, and the linkage/ram. I was just going to replace the pump until I saw how much more expensive a marine power steering pump is than an automobile power steering pump (why is that?). Anyway, looking for direction and advice on how to proceed with getting power steering working again! Please help.
jluxor
