OMC King Cobra Stiff Steering

[darkarcher]

1993 OMC 351 King cobra in Four Winns 210 Horizon

Has been steering just fine for several trips on the lake tubing and wakeboarding. When taking it back to trailer I noticed that while under full power the steering was extremely stiff when steering to the starboard. Still easily steered to the left. While at idle the boat seems to steer to the right much easier.

Any ideas on where to start the diagnosis?

 

[darkarcher]

Re: OMC King Cobra Stiff Steering

Just one more attempt to see if anyone with ideas may have missed the post since it was so late.

Suggestions about a place to start looking are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Juniinc]

Re: OMC King Cobra Stiff Steering

I would grease the steering ram first to start with,,,

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC King Cobra Stiff Steering

Howdy,


That sounds like a power steering problem(if installed) ......... you may have a seal going bad with fluid leaking past the control valve in one direction.


I don't think the actuator is rebuildable.


If you do not have power steering, and it's a 1992 model, #74 below might have slipped or it's missing..... Although, didn't they all have power steering?

Regards,


Rick

 

[darkarcher]

Re: OMC King Cobra Stiff Steering

It is a 1994 with power steering. I believe you may be correct, when steering the last time I was out I noticed a strange sqeaky/sucking type noice when turning the helm. I dont have a service manual that covers the steering mechanism. I wonder if anyone knows if that manual exists. I see you said that mechansim is not repairable so it may be that I just have to find a replacement.

Got a suggestion on how to truly diagnose the issue? I am going to pull the boat over to the house.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC King Cobra Stiff Steering

1993 OMC 351 King cobra in Four Winns 210 Horizon

I thought you said 93?......understand that if the BOAT is a 94 the engine and drive may well be a 93.






Well,

After you check the PS fluid (you did check the fluid?) I would put it on a flush adapter and run it on the trailer.


Have someone slowly turn the wheel from stop to stop and observe the actuator. It also could be binding back there with something else....

I would then disconnect it and see if the drive itself is binding.

Last, I would pull the actuator and get the hoses out where I could get to them and reconnect it so I could operate it by hand so see if it's operating correctly.

I am not sure if you can even buy one of those for that engine.

I don't think they changed them much going forward from the older Cobras.... Maybe an older type will fit. I see them on ebay all the time for not a lot of money...

You don't want to know how much a "new" one costs....

If it truly is a 93 the part number (from BRP) is 0986750, If it's a 94 (and on) then the part number is 3850244 (which I think IS a Volvo part number)

The illustration looks the same for both....(which might mean nothing!)

I did go to the BRP parts site and noticed that the steering cyl appears to be the same from 1990 on. 89 and before is quite different. It's also possible that a Volvo dealer can get one for you too.

All the info I mentioned above, I found by doing a search on http://epc.brp.com there's several models for each year and engine family. make sure that you're using your model number.


Cheers,


Rick