Power steering help

[carcraze]

Hi all

I finally got this new to me boat in the water for a couple runs. Working through lots of little problems now for the next one. This is my first boat equiped with power steering. 1988 Merc twin 350 mags on alpha 1.

Not sure if someone has changed things but it sure does not match the manual with regards to twin pumps. There is no resevoir can on the transom mind you there seems to be a spot for one. The caps are plumbed from the low pressure side coming from the oil coolers. There seems to be a priority valve installed though.

Right now I seem to be leaking from the left pump cap and it sure seems to overflow as the right pump seems to loose oil the left gains and will pressurize the pump container and blow oil. Makes a real mess and the oil seems to be foaming as well the left pump is growling. This really occurs when running just the right engine. When running just the left it does not seem to pressurize the right though as it seems to consistantly loose oil to the right side.

Is this a normal plumbing arangement and I just have a faulty pump or has someone plumbed this thing all wrong (seems unlikely), mind you so far whoever worked on this thing needs a little better understanding of boat mechanics.

I hope this makes some sense, so much for my nice scrubed out and clean oil free bilge!

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Power steering help

Ayuh,... Got any Pictures,..??

On most every Twin I've seen with P/Steering uses only 1 pump,+ 1 actuator to move Both drives...

 

[carcraze]

Re: Power steering help

Sorry no pictures as the boat is in the slip at the marina.

It has one actuator if my memory serves me and it seems as though it should be like 9a-9 in the #9 service manual. But it seems to be only half plumbed that way without the res bottle.

It certainly seems to have a priority valve.

It would be much easier with only 1 pump for sure.

 

[carcraze]

Re: Power steering help

No one worked on a dual steering pump system?

Well here is another question maybe someone can answer, if I plumb this thing per the book do the units stay isolated to one another and does anyone know how the resevoir works? I cant see the pump unit cans being full all the way to the resevoir tank on the transom, not sure the caps would seal that well?

Guess I could remove everything and run 1 but how do they steer if you loose the motor with the pump?