Another Power Steering leak

[christoner2002]

1997 Larson 206 SEI 5.7 MerCruiser Alpha One.

Just tinkering with a few things this winter, waiting for spring time. Last season, when I ran the boat, I would always loose power steering fluid, but it wouldn't be in the bilge. One time I saw a little sheen of oil on the water behind the boat when we were waiting to go thru a lock. I removed the Power Steering cooler before putting the boat away, expecting it to be the problem. I capped one end of the power steering hose ends on the cooler, and pressurized the other end with air, and placed the cooler in a bucket of soapy water. No bubbles. Then I capped both power steering ends, and submerged the cooler in water for 24 hours. No water in the power steering fluid portion. Is there any other place I could be loosing it? Again, it is not in the Bilge, so it has to be going out the exhaust. Also, does anyone know where to get the cooler new? My dealer told me it is discontinued, and I am afraid to by used, and possibly get one that leaks. Thank you for any input.

 

[christoner2002]

Re: Another Power Steering leak

Anyone? I found a piece of thin wall copper pipe, and I am thinking of sleeving the power steering cooler, and soldering the thin wall pipe in to seal it. I see no other place where I could be loosing power steering fluid into the cooling water, other then the cooler. Anyone else ever loose power steering fluid out the exhaust water, without having a cooler leak? Also, does anyone know where I could by a cooler new? It is discountinued thru MerCruiser

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Power Steering leak

I capped one end of the power steering hose ends on the cooler, and pressurized the other end with air, and placed the cooler in a bucket of soapy water. No bubbles. Then I capped both power steering ends, and submerged the cooler in water for 24 hours. No water in the power steering fluid portion.

Ayuh,... How much air pressure,..??

I wouldn't try sleeving it, as it won't work anymore...

It's also hard to believe the parts for a 1997 motor are NLA...

 

[christoner2002]

Re: Another Power Steering leak

I have my compressor set for 85 psi output, which I am not sure if that's enough to test it. I thought about my test of submerging the PS cooler, and realized water would not get into the PS fluid area, since I had both ends capped, and the air would be trapped. On the sleeve, I know it will loose at least alot of cooling ability, but if using thinwall copper, I thought it would transfer heat some. I would rather buy a brand new one, but after looking the part up on mercruiserparts.com, and asking my dealer, both said the part is NLA. I am worried to buy one used, as I could be getting a bad one. It is part # 861554T01, and that is the most recent part#. Any ideas? Thank you everyone

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Power Steering leak

Ayuh,... put 15psi of air into the Oil side of it, leave the water passage Open, 'n try it again....

How about a link to this thing, so I can see what you've got....
Most of 'em aren't anything Special, 'n a different vintage will probably easily work....

 

[christoner2002]

Re: Another Power Steering leak

I tried linking the page from mercruiserparts.com, but it doesn;t work correctly. I will try to find a link that works.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another Power Steering leak

Ayuh,... Like I said,...
I can't feature there's much difference between it, 'n another 1 of a different vintage, that can't be made to fit...

If the body length changed, that's easily adaptable,..
If hose sizes changed, that's also easily adaptable...