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Author Topic:   Hard power steering

Swellmonster posted 11-06-2006 10:52 PM ET (US)
1998 225 EFI Merc.
I amused to mine but drove another boat and it seemed so much easier to steer.
What should I check?
Tom W Clark posted 11-06-2006 10:55 PM ET (US)
Power steering?
Plotman posted 11-07-2006 09:06 AM ET (US)
If you mean hydraulic steering, you can still get binding from old grease, rust and crud inside the tilt tube. Same as with cable steering. I had an old whaler where the steering was very stiff until I took the ram out and cleaned it all up.
Do a search on tilt tube and you should find plenty of info.
David
contender posted 11-08-2006 09:29 PM ET (US)
Plotman is correct, remove the steering rod from the tube, use a shotgun cleaning kit with a degreaser, or put it on a drill motor and run it in and out, while the steering is off check the cable for breaks and bad bends, remove it from the steering head and clean and replace the grease. The same at the other end. If your cable is still stiff your grease has dried up in the cable, depending on how stiff it is you may have to go for a new cable...good luck
Plotman posted 11-09-2006 11:41 AM ET (US)
I you have hydraulic steering, I would strongly suggest NOT unhooking the hoses from the helm or ram, unless you have a very good reason to do so. I think contender believes you are talking about teleflex cable steering. The procedure for cleaning out the tilt tube is the same either way.
Peter posted 11-09-2006 12:26 PM ET (US)
Make sure to grease the steering swivel of the outboard bracket.
Swellmonster posted 11-13-2006 06:57 PM ET (US)
Yes it is hydraulic steering..
jgkmmoore posted 11-15-2006 08:23 PM ET (US)
If your reservoir has some space, pour in some "Lucas Power Steering Stopleak". A 12oz. bottle is about $8.95. and I'd bet it will fix the problem if you can get at least an oz. in it.Pour the whole bottle in if you can. It has a money back guarantee, and the stuff really does miracles.Can be found at most better auto parts stores.
I'm not a fan of 'Snakeoil' type stuff or additives, but really impressed by this product.Will take hard spots out of steering too.
contender posted 11-19-2006 10:57 PM ET (US)
my bad, if it is hyd. steering and the steering tube cleaning and greasing of the swivel of the engine bracket (you should be able to move your engine back and forth with one finger steering disconnected) does not take care of your problem, check your fluid, is ok and not leaking, you might have to have your helm serviced...good luck
Swellmonster posted 11-20-2006 12:12 AM ET (US)
With your motor just sitting on the back of your boat on the trailer, can you grab the motor and with your hands and move the motor and swing it side to side fairly easy?

I also failed to mention a slight kink in the hydraulic hose near the motor, since it raise and lowers, it has a lil wrinkle in the hose....
rtk posted 11-20-2006 11:14 AM ET (US)
With hydraulic steering, no, I can't move my 250EFI back and forth.
Rich
cwolf posted 11-20-2006 04:06 PM ET (US)
I've actually witnessed hard steering due the hydraulic steering ram being bent. It can be a very subtle bend making it hard to detect. I have no idea how this would happen but it does.
contender posted 11-20-2006 04:40 PM ET (US)
Cwolf is correct , if someone has step on the ram while getting in the boat and bent it this would be a problem, If the hyd. sterring arm is disconnected from the engine bracket you should be able to move the engine freely from hard over side to side. Bent hyd line also problem does not let the fluid flow freely. Who every set up the lines sounds like they did not leave enought line for the engine to be raised and lowered these lines should not kink for this motion. Again if everything is ok your helm may need to be serviced... good luck

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Author	Topic: Hard power steering
Swellmonster	posted 11-06-2006 10:52 PM ET (US) 1998 225 EFI Merc. I amused to mine but drove another boat and it seemed so much easier to steer. What should I check?
Tom W Clark	posted 11-06-2006 10:55 PM ET (US) Power steering?
Plotman	posted 11-07-2006 09:06 AM ET (US) If you mean hydraulic steering, you can still get binding from old grease, rust and crud inside the tilt tube. Same as with cable steering. I had an old whaler where the steering was very stiff until I took the ram out and cleaned it all up. Do a search on tilt tube and you should find plenty of info. David
contender	posted 11-08-2006 09:29 PM ET (US) Plotman is correct, remove the steering rod from the tube, use a shotgun cleaning kit with a degreaser, or put it on a drill motor and run it in and out, while the steering is off check the cable for breaks and bad bends, remove it from the steering head and clean and replace the grease. The same at the other end. If your cable is still stiff your grease has dried up in the cable, depending on how stiff it is you may have to go for a new cable...good luck
Plotman	posted 11-09-2006 11:41 AM ET (US) I you have hydraulic steering, I would strongly suggest NOT unhooking the hoses from the helm or ram, unless you have a very good reason to do so. I think contender believes you are talking about teleflex cable steering. The procedure for cleaning out the tilt tube is the same either way.
Peter	posted 11-09-2006 12:26 PM ET (US) Make sure to grease the steering swivel of the outboard bracket.
Swellmonster	posted 11-13-2006 06:57 PM ET (US) Yes it is hydraulic steering..
jgkmmoore	posted 11-15-2006 08:23 PM ET (US) If your reservoir has some space, pour in some "Lucas Power Steering Stopleak". A 12oz. bottle is about $8.95. and I'd bet it will fix the problem if you can get at least an oz. in it.Pour the whole bottle in if you can. It has a money back guarantee, and the stuff really does miracles.Can be found at most better auto parts stores. I'm not a fan of 'Snakeoil' type stuff or additives, but really impressed by this product.Will take hard spots out of steering too.
contender	posted 11-19-2006 10:57 PM ET (US) my bad, if it is hyd. steering and the steering tube cleaning and greasing of the swivel of the engine bracket (you should be able to move your engine back and forth with one finger steering disconnected) does not take care of your problem, check your fluid, is ok and not leaking, you might have to have your helm serviced...good luck
Swellmonster	posted 11-20-2006 12:12 AM ET (US) With your motor just sitting on the back of your boat on the trailer, can you grab the motor and with your hands and move the motor and swing it side to side fairly easy? I also failed to mention a slight kink in the hydraulic hose near the motor, since it raise and lowers, it has a lil wrinkle in the hose....
rtk	posted 11-20-2006 11:14 AM ET (US) With hydraulic steering, no, I can't move my 250EFI back and forth. Rich
cwolf	posted 11-20-2006 04:06 PM ET (US) I've actually witnessed hard steering due the hydraulic steering ram being bent. It can be a very subtle bend making it hard to detect. I have no idea how this would happen but it does.
contender	posted 11-20-2006 04:40 PM ET (US) Cwolf is correct , if someone has step on the ram while getting in the boat and bent it this would be a problem, If the hyd. sterring arm is disconnected from the engine bracket you should be able to move the engine freely from hard over side to side. Bent hyd line also problem does not let the fluid flow freely. Who every set up the lines sounds like they did not leave enought line for the engine to be raised and lowered these lines should not kink for this motion. Again if everything is ok your helm may need to be serviced... good luck