volvo penta/sx outdrive/steering problem

[slinkyman169]

first post.. wish i would of found this place sooner.. but im having problems with my 02 wellcraft.. motor is a 4.3gl volvo penta.. sx outdrive..

my problem is two fold.. motor has hydrolic steering.. well last boat trip steering became irratic (hard to move side to side) and the outdrive wouldnt stay in trim.. now my question is this..

what could really be the problem.. i know that their is a leak somewhere.. but being that its hard to work in that bay.. just wondering where i should start looking.. taking the boat out of the garage and startin it up is not an option as our garage door is being blocked with some stuff. reason for the question..

thanks.

 

[cop4910]

Re: volvo penta/sx outdrive/steering problem

Had a similiar problem on my 2001 wellcraft. I have a 385hp volvo. I could make right turns only, felt like I was going to break something to go straight. My problem, $1300 later, was that the steering piston that runs across the back of the engine compartment had a slight leak. That wasn't the whole problem!! The bracket that it attaches to had cracked. When the boat was out of the water it seemed to steer fine, but when it had the slightest load you could feel the problem.

 

[Don S]

Re: volvo penta/sx outdrive/steering problem

The leak has to be fixed since it may be the cause of your problem. I know you want an EZ Button to push and tell you everything, but there just ain't no such thing in looking for leaks and fixing things.
You have to run it and find the leak, guessing just isn't going to work. Unless you want to replace EVERYTHING in the system and see IF it works then.