Power steering belt came off

[rasnattydred]

I got a 1997 18.5ft Bayliner Ski/Fish. We were tubing and the steering got very difficult suddenly. When I opened up the engine cover, the front belt is hanging there loose.
The belt is in good shape, no cracks etc. Can't imagine how it came off. Is this the power steering belt?
We then slowly took the boat back to our trailer as it didn't seem to be hurting the engine and we were stranded at the lake.
Any advice guys? Whats going here

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

Two possibilities, the belt was too loose, the pump locked up. If you can turn the PS pump by hand your ok, put the belt back on (after close inspection) and retention.

The PS Pump is turning, but kida wobbles, is that normal?

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

Two possibilities, the belt was too loose, the pump locked up. If you can turn the PS pump by hand your ok, put the belt back on (after close inspection) and retention.

I guess a better way to say it is the pulley seems warped. But all was good when i inspected it not long ago. The belts are in perfect condition. any advice?

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Power steering belt came off

Try putting the belt back on an tighten her down snug, Not too tight or you could ruine the bearings on the pump causing it to have a high squealing noise meaning the belt is too tight. your pump could have loosened up do to vibration.

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

Try putting the belt back on an tighten her down snug, Not too tight or you could ruine the bearings on the pump causing it to have a high squealing noise meaning the belt is too tight. your pump could have loosened up do to vibration.

Not too sure if I am skilled enough to put the belt back on, how simple is the process? I can usually do moderate repairs with instructions.

This belt goes around several pulleys, one is definetley the PS pulley, hence the power steering went dead. I always thought it was the serpentine belt. Could it be both?

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Power steering belt came off

It is very easy, even for you, there are two bolts, one for the tention on top and the other on the bottom, loosen them both just enough to be able to slide the belt back over the pully, then depending on where you are positioned put pressure at the top of the pump to tighten th belt on the pully and tighten the top bolt back down at the same time, then tighten the bottom bolt.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Power steering belt came off

It`s either the pulley or the P/S pump itself.Check closer.If it`s the pump, replacement is the only option. If you had belts, you`d have more than one.
1 belt would be serpentine

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

It`s either the pulley or the P/S pump itself.Check closer.If it`s the pump, replacement is the only option. If you had belts, you`d have more than one.
1 belt would be serpentine

Okay I put the belt back on and started up, seems that the pulley is the problem. The seam in the pulley is all dusted out and makes the pully wobble. How easy is it to replace the pulley for the power steering?

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Power steering belt came off

it's alot easier, and in most cases the only way, to replace the whole power steering pump. the only way to get a pulley generally is to go to wrecking yard. then you need a special puller/installer tool, which usually doesn't save any money. replacing the whole pump is alot easier, since more than likely the pump would be off motor anyway to swap pulleys.

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

it's alot easier, and in most cases the only way, to replace the whole power steering pump. the only way to get a pulley generally is to go to wrecking yard. then you need a special puller/installer tool, which usually doesn't save any money. replacing the whole pump is alot easier, since more than likely the pump would be off motor anyway to swap pulleys.

Okay so i need to replace my pump, greeeat. Is this something I can do myself?

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Power steering belt came off

generally an easy enough task, but this also depends on how easy it is to get to. it's a matter of a couple bolts, usually 3 or 4, and 2 fluid lines, disconnect all, remove old pump, install new pump. if you pump is mounted top side of motor, it should be real easy. if mounted bottom side, it'll be a bit trickier. a manual should be able to tell you exactly where all the bolts are for your motor, as sometimes there is a "hidden" bolt.

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

generally an easy enough task, but this also depends on how easy it is to get to. it's a matter of a couple bolts, usually 3 or 4, and 2 fluid lines, disconnect all, remove old pump, install new pump. if you pump is mounted top side of motor, it should be real easy. if mounted bottom side, it'll be a bit trickier. a manual should be able to tell you exactly where all the bolts are for your motor, as sometimes there is a "hidden" bolt.

Okay sounds fair enough, mine is at the top, any ideas where to get a new power steering pump? Thanks a lot for the advice, it is really awesome i can come here and get advice like this from you guys.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Power steering belt came off

I?m not sure if power steering pumps have anything marine about them (someone will correct me if I?m wrong). I think you should be able to find one at an auto store. The problem I see is that they usually don?t come with a pulley. If the only problem is your pulley I would buy a used pump from a junk yard. You can borrow a gear puller from AutoZone to transfer the pulley to the good pump. If the problem is with the shaft on the pump you will need a new pump and have to transfer your pulley anyway.

 

[mkast]

Re: Power steering belt came off

Get yourself the Mercruiser manual.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

Get yourself the Mercruiser manual.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

Yeh I got a manual but it does not list a part for the P/S pump. I got the whole pump out except for the pressure line, I cannot get it to unscrew, so frustrated. Pretty sure I can take the old pump up to NAPA Parts and get a new one. Now, just to get this bloody thing unscrewed.

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Power steering belt came off

have both pump and pulley checked. it sounds a bit like a bent pump shaft or worn bearings, but a bent pulley is not unheard of. if it turns out to be pulley, junkyards, craigslist might turn up a pump with good pulley, or you could check performance sights (summitracingonline.com or jegs.com are a couple) for a nice, pretty aftermarket pulley.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Power steering belt came off

You could try a line wrench, cresent wrenches could round off your corners then you'll be screwed, If the corners aren't rounded already then a line wrench might help.

 

[bamadave]

Re: Power steering belt came off

It would have been easier to disconnect lines while pump was still mounted.

 

[rasnattydred]

Re: Power steering belt came off

It would have been easier to disconnect lines while pump was still mounted.

Yeh I mounted it back to unscrew the line but what I needed was to have a line wrench to begin with, now it is all stripped and I cannot get it off, so I'm screwed. I even tried to get the pulley puller and take off the pulley and failed at that too so I guess I gotta pay someone to do this even tho I was only one bolt away from doing it myself. ERR

 

[rbh]

Re: Power steering belt came off

if it is all ready hooped VICE GRIPS, the old stand by.
remember to replace the line.
rob