Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

[FL~Boater]

Greetings all,
Components: Engine is: Mercruiser 4.3L (262 CID ? GEN+) ?98 (S/N 0M085165). Outdrive: Also ?98 Alpha 1 (S/N 0M268088)

The steering is very stiff. It is about the same whether the engine is running or not. It will turn from lock to lock with the same stiffness throughout. I would like some thoughts on what I should do next (see steps taken below). Thanks!

Bought the boat about 6 weeks ago. During the test drive we noticed the steering was stiff. The seller said it had always been that way. Bought it anyway and now working on the problem.

Steps taken:
1) Checked the power steering (P/S) pump reservoir. Fluid was at the correct level.
2) I removed the pin from the steering cable and the P/S actuator. I did NOT loosen the nut or remove the steering rod from the ?tube?. I was able to freely turn the wheel lock-to-lock without issue. The rod had grease on it, but I added some more since I had it extended. (Still talking about the steering cable there)
3) I then changed the P/S pump with a used one which should be good. Refilled the reservoir, started the engine and turned the wheel back and forth. The P/S fluid level dropped some and is at a normal point. I did not change any hoses or fitting. Just the pump.

After all that, the steering is still very stiff. My neighbor, a long time boat owner, also agrees that it is way too tight, so I will assume it is indeed a problem.

I am looking now at replacing the P/S Actuator Assembly, but wanted some thoughts on things I may want to try first.

I have read that some of you have checked the pressure in the system. What do I need to do this and how do I do it? Also, what is the expected pressure range?

Any help or thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[FL~Boater]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

Round 2

This weekend I changed the steering actuator. It was not at all an easy task; more for the lack of space and access than the complexity of the process. The result of my efforts was disappointment. The steering feels just as stiff. However, where before it was the same resistance throughout, it now seems to get harder and easier as the wheel moves from stop to stop. Even when it is easiest, it still seems too stiff. The actuator is the ?new style? and therefore has no adjustments. As a note for the record, in addition to the actuator, I also replaced the hose from the pump to the actuator and the hose from the actuator to the cooler. The only part of the steering system that hasn?t been replaced is the cooler itself and the steering cable. I don?t think it is the cable since it moves fine when disconnected from the actuator. Also as a note, while I had the stern drive disconnected from the steering actuator, I did ensure it moved back and forth freely and with very little effort.
I have claimed defeat and will take it to a repair shop for troubleshooting. If/when they find the problem, I will post it here.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

deleted

 

[FL~Boater]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

I have read a few of the threads that say when checking the steering cable in the PS actuator tube for corrosion, you should loosen and disconnect the cable nut where it attaches to the actuator, then remove the clevis pin, then move the steering wheel to check for stiffness. My question is what is the purpose of loosening the cable nut? I have only removed the clevis pin from the cable/actuator to check that the cable moves freely through the actuator tube. Is this enough?
What effect does loosening/removing the steering cable nut have on how freely, or not, the steering cable moves through the tube?
I am having a tough go at this and would like to understand how all this comes together. If it helps, when I do remove the pin, the steering is not stiff and moves freely. When connected, it is difficult to turn.

Thanks !!

 

[FL~Boater]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

Is there any chance of getting some help with the above questions? I have spent hours looking at post to see if it was addressed some where else. If I have over looked it, please post the link or response. I truely need some help with this.

Thanks!!

 

[FL~Boater]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

I took the boat to a repair facility, which is listed on the Mercruiser website, and asked them to troubleshoot the steering problem. I told them that I had replaced the power steering pump, two of the three lines, and installed a brand new actuator. They concluded that the new actuator was bad. They said it was too stiff.

When I arrived to pick up the boat, I brought my collection of actuators with me to help them explain to me what the problem is. I had the original one, a used one that is supposed to be good and another brand new one. What he showed me is that it is the tube (the part the steering cable goes through) that is stiff. Do not confuse this with the cable being stiff in the tube. This is the tube itself. Until this point, I hadn?t realized that the tube itself is a moving part. This may answer my question in the above post as to why you would disconnect the end of the cable from the actuator (remove the pin) while still leaving it attached at the treaded end. By doing this, and turning the wheel, you should see the tube moving back and forth and the rod should also move as a result. Although, with the pin removed, what would the cable push against to cause it to move the actuator tube? He held up the new actuator and pressed on the steering tube to show me that it did move. He said that he could not move the one that is currently installed on the boat. He did confirm that the pump was putting out the correct pressure and that there was nothing blocking the lines. I asked about the steering cable, and they said it was positioned correctly and that it was properly secured.

I have changed out the actuator again and installed the new one. Before removing the current one, I hooked up the hydraulic lines, started the boat and manually moved the tube to ensure the thing worked. It did, so I proceeded to swap them out. When I got the current one out, I compared the pressure it took to move the tubes and it was about the same. Therefore I was not to optimistic about the new one fixing the problem, but in it went. The result is that the steering is just as stiff as it was before.

With the boat running, I can see the cable pushing and pulling the actuator tube, however the steering is still very stiff. When I jerk the wheel to the left or right, it does get a little easier to turn. But a nice slow steady turn of the wheel, still takes two hands.

So now I have confirmation that all the components of the power steering system are good. Yet, the steering is still very stiff when the boat is running at any engine RPM. My best guess is that the steering cable is not moving the tube enough to fully engage the actuator. How to fix this is any one?s best guess.

I do hope that all of this has helped someone to resolve a steering problem. Since I am getting no feedback and I am at the end of the troubleshooting trail, I will not update this any further.

Troubleshooting steps for stiff steering, as I see it:

1. Check the power steering fluid level, and bleed system if it was low.
2. Remove the pin that connects the steering cable to the actuator. If the steering wheel is hard to turn or does not turn, clean the inside of the actuator tube and grease the cable.
3. Remove the pin that connects the outdrive to the actuator. Ensure that the outdrives moves freely from left to right.
4. Optional, and if you can reach it, you can start the engine and try and manually move the tube, which should move the actuator.
5. If the actuator seems to be working, you may want to stop and pressure test the power steering system. I have read that some folks remove a line, start the engine, and see of fluid is being pushed through. Since the system is supposed to run somewhere around 2000 psi, just seeing fluid come out doesn?t really tell you if the system is running at pressure. It is probably worth the hour?s labor to have it properly pressure tested.
6. If the system is low, ensure the lines are not blocked the replace then pump.
7. If all that is good, change out the actuator and hope for the best.

This is the point I have gotten too, so if none of the above fixes the problem, I don?t know what will.

Good luck

 

[nyjetskier]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

Over the last two weeks, I have experienced the exact same issues. Changed the actuator which was a b_tch to do with a new one, changed out the pump last night only to make very little diffrence. I can admit that after putting in the new (used) pump, it did get a little better but the steering was still stiff in most of the travel of the steering. Some times it would get better and sometimes it was like no power at all. I did check for the acuation of the tube and it was free to travel....I'm at the end of my rope also.

If anyone else has any ideas for us, please chime in before we get buff!
Thanks

 

[FL~Boater]

Re: Power Steering Stiff after checking cable and pump

Picked up the boat from the shop again today. I had taken it back to let them have another go at it. This time they looked into it a bit deeper and came back with the steering cable being bad. Seems that when I only disconnected it from the actuator, without pulling it fully out of the ?tube?, that may not have been enough to cause it to bind. This time the mechanic fully removed the cable from the actuator and says it binds in some spots so bad you can?t turn it. Again, not sure why it didn?t bind for me, but I believe them. If for no other reason than what else could it be? So I will start looking at the steering cable replacement post.

Check your cable ?nyjetskier? . My guess is that is your problem, even if (like me) you previously ruled it out.

On a positive note, the shop did not charge me for the additional troubleshooting. Thank you Piper Marine. I do appreciate that!!