Stiff steering

[SuperMiguel]

So i have a 1998 5.7 inboard mercruiser engine and a bravo 3 outdrive...

The sterring is a bit stiff... So far i have changed the cable, that helped a bit but not enough.. I removed the clevis pin (disconected the outdrive from the cable) and the wheel moves fantastic, very very soft, put the pin again and got stiff.. I also disconnected the low pressure house that goes into the booster cylinder (i think thats what it is called) and turned the engine on.. there was a good amount of oil comming out of it... putted back, and refilled the steering container with steering fluid and still a bit stiff.. What else can i do??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stiff steering

So i have a 1998 5.7 inboard mercruiser engine and a bravo 3 outdrive...

The sterring is a bit stiff... So far i have changed the cable, that helped a bit but not enough.. I removed the clevis pin (disconected the outdrive from the cable) and the wheel moves fantastic, very very soft, put the pin again and got stiff.. I also disconnected the low pressure house that goes into the booster cylinder (i think thats what it is called) and turned the engine on.. there was a good amount of oil comming out of it... putted back, and refilled the steering container with steering fluid and still a bit stiff.. What else can i do??

Ayuh,.... How did the drive swing, by itself, without the cable hooked up,..??

How long ago was the drive greased,..?? Is it corroded,..??

My 1st guess was the cable bein' corroded, Inside the aluminum tube, at the P/S actuator,..??

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

Ayuh,.... How did the drive swing, by itself, without the cable hooked up,..??

For some reason without the cable hooked up the drive would not move.. it was like stock :S then i inserted the pin and it would move.. The drive was greased few months ago, and it doesnt look corroded... The cable is brand new so no corrotion on it.. The aluminum tube looks clean (im guessing you refering to the tube where the cable goes trough)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stiff steering

For some reason without the cable hooked up the drive would not move.. it was like stock :S then i inserted the pin and it would move.. The drive was greased few months ago, and it doesnt look corroded... The cable is brand new so no corrotion on it.. The aluminum tube looks clean (im guessing you refering to the tube where the cable goes trough)

Ayuh,... Disconnect it at the Tiller Arm, 'n the drive should move freely....
Where the P/S actuator hooks to the Tiller Arm...

If not,... Keep diggin'...

 

[achris]

Re: Stiff steering

Those power steering units are 'non feedback'. If the shuttle is not open it WILL lock the drive solid. You need to remove the pin that connects the tiller arm (the one that goes to the drive) from the power steering cylinder in order to check to see if the drive is moving freely. I'll try and find a picture of the pin and connections I'm referring to and I'll post up as and edit to this post...

Chris......

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

did you ever find that pic?? Like i said with out the cable hooked up the steering is very soft (NICE) as soon as i hook the pin it gets very very stiff.. Also When the boat is in the water at slow speeds it is stiff but as soons as i get speed it becomes very soft.. Could it be the power steeling pump???

 

[Don S]

Re: Stiff steering

Disconnect the coupler nut and see if the wheel turns easily and the coupler nut and cable move away from the PS unit. If the wheel turns easily, the steering cable is most likely freezing up, due to corrosion, inside the aluminum tube of the power steering cylinder.
In that case, remove the coupler nut, and clevis pin. Then pull the steering cable out of the tube, clean out the corrosion, grease it up and it should work fine.
Sometimes a hardwood dowel (1/2" diameter) can be used as a punch to tap the cable end out of the tube. Do not use a steel punch, as it will peen the end of the cable over and you will never get it out in one piece.

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

ok ima try this.. but also the cable is brand brand new... ima try this now

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

We removed the clevis pin, and the coupler nut and the wheel moved very very easy...

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

So when i remove just the coupler nut, the wheel turns easy.. So i went ahead and removed the clevis pin, took the cable out, and using a 5/8" drill bit i cleaned the inside of where the cable goes... Putted everything back and same problem... What else could it be??

 

[achris]

Re: Stiff steering

On Don's picture I have moved arrow "A". This is the pin you need to remove. It has a split pin on the underside, so you'll need to remove that before pulling the clevis pin out. Once that is out, try and turn the steering wheel and also try and move the drive from the outside of the boat. If the drive moves the problem is the power steering cylinder. If the drive doesn't move, it's the swivel shafts in the gimbal ring.

Chris.....

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

On Don's picture I have moved arrow "A". This is the pin you need to remove. It has a split pin on the underside, so you'll need to remove that before pulling the clevis pin out. Once that is out, try and turn the steering wheel and also try and move the drive from the outside of the boat. If the drive moves the problem is the power steering cylinder. If the drive doesn't move, it's the swivel shafts in the gimbal ring.

Chris.....

So i removed today the power steering pump hose and drained all the oil that was in there, and refilled it with new oil, i also turned my engine with the hose unhooked and there was oil at very high preassure comming out... With everything installed my drive does move. So i removed the pin "A" (just that pin) and the drive moved from the outside easily. But if i leave that new pin "A" in and take out the old pin a (Picture by Don S) it does lock the drive in place for one side but not for the other side... Like i can move it from the middle all the way to the left, but i cant move it from middle to the right..

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

Does this mean that my power steering cylinder is bad??? is there a way to fix it?

 

[achris]

Re: Stiff steering

Those are a 'non feedback' power steering system. Remove pin A (my pin A ) again and start the engine up and see if the steering is still stiff. If it is (and I suspect it will be) then the power steering cylinder is to blame. I've had this on a new boat in 1997, Merc ended up replacing the cylinder complete (in the days before the all mighty dollar blinded them to customer service )...

The book says these units are not serviceable, but I believe the problem is that the shuttle valve spring is too stiff, and I think it can be adjusted... Have a good look in service manual 11 and you'll find a blow up drawing...

Hope this helps,

Chris......

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

the steering is not stiff if i remove your pin A

 

[Steve91T]

Re: Stiff steering

the steering is not stiff if i remove your pin A

Do you have any slop in your steering wheel? I've been following your thread and am trouble shooting the same issues. The only difference with mine is I have a ton of slop in the wheel.

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

Do you have any slop in your steering wheel? I've been following your thread and am trouble shooting the same issues. The only difference with mine is I have a ton of slop in the wheel.

a bit

 

[Steve91T]

Re: Stiff steering

a bit

I was told by the mechanic who winterized my boat that the slop (in my case) was coming from the cylinder and that needed to be replaced. Maybe finding your slop will also help you. I'm still diagnosing mine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stiff steering

the steering is not stiff if i remove your pin A

Ayuh,... Does the drive move stiffly at this point, by hand, outside,..??

 

[SuperMiguel]

Re: Stiff steering

Ayuh,... Does the drive move stiffly at this point, by hand, outside,..??

no..