Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

[JayBird88]

I recently bought a 1989 Sea Ray 180 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. It actually has the SE106 instead of the Alpha I but I believe it's almost identical. Anyway, I checked out this boat and it's in fair condition for what I had to pay for it. It needs an impellar kit and I noticed that the steering has a lot of slack in it. Kind of hard to drive on to the trailer or even pull up to a dock to pick someone up. Not to mention, steering accurately when picking up a downed skier. I need some info on how to bleed the power steering or adjust it to eliminate all I can before I replace any parts. Anyone know how hard that is or any suggestions on how to bleed or adjust?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

Ayuh,... 1st thing ya gotta do is Find the slack....

It takes 2 or 3 folks to pull it off,...
Person (A) should hold the steering wheel...
Person (C) should hold the outdrive,...
Person (B), preferably, yourself has to crawl into the bilge to Closely observe the steering linkages...

(A) should shake the wheel back, 'n forth, as (C) holds the drive while yer observing...
Then (A) will hold the wheel, while (C) shakes the outdrive from side to side...

When this is done,...
You should have a solid idea of What's worn, 'n Where...

Btw,... Bleedin' the P/S is done by turning it lock to lock 3 or 6 times, with the motor OFF...

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

If you do the above and you have side to side play in the outdrive, try retorquing the two gimbal ring clamping screws to 55 ft lb. That may eliminate the play. Good luck

 

[JayBird88]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

Thanks for the walk through. The steering wheel doesn't have any play, it's just the outdrive. It can move 3-4 inches without turning the steering wheel. This pretty much rules out bleeding or adjustments being the problem. I'll let you know what I find wore out. Thanks for the help.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

it's just the outdrive. It can move 3-4 inches without turning the steering wheel.

Those symptoms indicate one of two things: Either the steering arm is loose on the swivel shaft, or more likely the the gimbal ring is loose and starting to ware. First thing you need to do is retorque the two gimbal ring clamping screws to 55 ft lb. There are nuts on the them, but you can get on them by turning the outdrive. This may take the play out. Retorquing these screws should be part of annual maintenance. Here is an illustration of the ring: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...&bnbr=50&bdesc=GIMBAL+RING+AND+STEERING+LEVER You will be tightening the ring on the square part of the upper swivel pin. Got to keep it tight or it will ware to the point it will never tighten. Good luck.

 

[JayBird88]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

Hopefully tightening these will help. I'm getting more familiar with all these parts the more we discuss them. It's not something I can't fix if there are some parts that are wore out it's just going to be a lot more work. At least it'll be fixed right and won't be an issue for several years if I have to replace the worn out parts. The motor runs great and after I replaced the water pump/impellar assy, this is the only issue. At first I was thinking I got a trashed boat, but for what I paid for it, it'll be perfect after getting this fixed. 1989 SeaRay with a good running 4.3 and only spending a couple hundred to get it right....$4700 wasn't too much was it?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

$4700 wasn't too much was it?

Ayuh,.... Only You can answer that question,...

I donno what yer gonna find,...
but, I'll add, operator experince might play into this...

At idle speeds, V-hulls tend to wander all by themselves....

Kind of hard to drive on to the trailer or even pull up to a dock to pick someone up. Not to mention, steering accurately when picking up a downed skier.

It's a Boat, not a car...
It's Water, not blacktop...

 

[Split Shot]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

I had alot of play on my 83 SeaRay and gimal ring wouldn't tighten up. Had the gimbal ring replaced. Now nice and tight. I also bought a SE106 drive last year and I am very satisified. Price-looks-performance. They are a little loud (whining) at first. Doesn't sound right, but quiets down over time.

 

[JayBird88]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

What did it cost you to have the Gimbal Ring replaced?

 

[JayBird88]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

I've had plenty of operator experience, all with boats that didn't have a steering problem though. This is 'excessive wander'. Not just the difference between blacktop and water. Thanks for the help though, have a great day ....Ayuh!

 

[JayBird88]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

I'm going to dig into it this afternoon. I'll let you all know what I find wrong with it or if I'm able to just tighten something up. Thanks a ton for everyones input. This has been really helpful.

 

[farfettcassar]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

Hi all
l have a 2008 trophy 2152 with a mercruiser 4.3 and alpha leg and l have the same problem when l try to the dock or just moving forward slowly l am always turning the steering left to right and left again all the time which is so tiring and so stupid l have had a lot of boats and nothing this bad but to me something is wrong could it be air or something else there is no loose anywhere except in the steering box which is about 3" or 4" movement of the steering ,if anybody can help ,l am getting very fed up with this boat it is supposed to be a fishing boat but you cannot traul at slow speed at all not even steer it to the dock .

Thanks Joe.

 

[Don S]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

Welcome to iboats Joe, you really need to start your own thread, not hijack someone elses thread with your question.

 

[JayBird88]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

I have tightened up the gimbal screws and the screw that holds the steering arm on the swivel shaft and that helped a lot. There is still a little play in it but nothing like it was so I'm living with it. In fact it stears so well now, I ran right into a stump and have a whole different problem now. Thank goodness for the good folks in this forum cuz they'll walk you through just about anything and it really helps to eliminate extra work when it's time to wrench on her! Your problem sounds like it's in the steering gear box not down at the lower end. Can you move your outdrive from right to left without the steering wheel turning?

 

[farfettcassar]

Re: Steering Play Mercruiser 4.3 Alpha I/SE106

Hi All
Sorry Don still new forgive me all .

Thanks Joe.