Symptoms: Power Steering is not balanced. At idle in neutral, wheel turns itself all the way to right. It is a struggle to turn wheel left.
My attempt at fixing it: I disconnected steering cable from power steering ram end, disconnected outdrives from ram and started engine and since ram pushed out to PORT side, I turned the balancing nut CCW. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I was looking for the ram to start moving STBD but it didn't. See pics below, I almost turned nut all way off and no change. PS pump started to smoke though, so that isn't a good sign. I think it is from all the PS fluid that I dripped onto the outside of pump during all the troubleshooting but is that kind of temperature normal?
Solution. ?????? That is where I need your help. Do I need to tap on the bolt when I turn the nut? Am I turning it the wrong way? I bought a used PS ram + actuator and was hoping the steering was going to be finger light. It was easier to steer without hyd fluid in the system!
Equipment: Twin Merc 260 350CI 1987 w/ Alpha Ones and power steering. Power Steering actuator is new to me from Green Bay Prop. Hi pressure line new, low pressure line new, new PS fluid, no leaks. Bled correctly as per service manual. Steering cable is free to move, does not have anything tied to it.
Note: this is an updated post from my previous one that dealt with stiff steering. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=551511 I decided the issue was different enough a new post was warrented
My attempt at fixing it: I disconnected steering cable from power steering ram end, disconnected outdrives from ram and started engine and since ram pushed out to PORT side, I turned the balancing nut CCW. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I was looking for the ram to start moving STBD but it didn't. See pics below, I almost turned nut all way off and no change. PS pump started to smoke though, so that isn't a good sign. I think it is from all the PS fluid that I dripped onto the outside of pump during all the troubleshooting but is that kind of temperature normal?
Solution. ?????? That is where I need your help. Do I need to tap on the bolt when I turn the nut? Am I turning it the wrong way? I bought a used PS ram + actuator and was hoping the steering was going to be finger light. It was easier to steer without hyd fluid in the system!
Equipment: Twin Merc 260 350CI 1987 w/ Alpha Ones and power steering. Power Steering actuator is new to me from Green Bay Prop. Hi pressure line new, low pressure line new, new PS fluid, no leaks. Bled correctly as per service manual. Steering cable is free to move, does not have anything tied to it.
Note: this is an updated post from my previous one that dealt with stiff steering. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=551511 I decided the issue was different enough a new post was warrented