Power steering hose routing

[rickasbury]

I don't think I could have messed it up but I can't really find a routing for the ;power steering hoses to the steering cylinder...high side goes to which connector on the cylinder? All the manual shows is the cooler but the high side does not go to the cooler does it? The cooler would be on the return side of the low pressure line right?

 

[achris]

High pressure (directly from the pump) goes directly to the SMALL hole on the cylinder. The low pressure/return is the LARGE hole on the cylinder, and it runs to the cooler, then back to the pump.

I'll chase up a drawing, or I'll photograph mine....

Chris.........

 

[achris]

2006 model should have quick-connects. Unless you have removed the fittings from the cylinder, you can't get them wrong.

 

[rickasbury]

I have the quick connects....what the heck could be making that sound in the steering? I will do the bleed procedure per the manual but this is very odd. Good to hear from you achris and hope all is well....It was not making this noise on initial trial run...when the pump hand grandaded....would air in the system make such a noise? It really sounds like a lifter and then when I turned the steering wheel it goes away....very odd. I will get back in there tomorrow as I was to figure out if the new trim lines are leaking or the pump is leaking at the cylinder......we are putting it in the water for the 4th but will not go far with it until resolved.

 

[achris]

Air in the system does make a hell of a racket... Just spin the wheel lock to lock a few times and that should clear it (with the engine running). Just make sure you don't run low on fluid in the reservoir.

Chris....

 

[rickasbury]

Lord I hope that's it..I need a break! We had a storm come through the other day...wheels were not chaulked and it blew our boat back 10' into a car...not sure how hard...but this tick is new since then....

 

[achris]

We had a storm come through the other day...wheels were not chocked and it blew our boat back 10' into a car...not sure how hard...but this tick is new since then....

Ahh, the missing link! (of information)

If the drive was hit, then you need to be looking for cracks in housings, bell housing, gimbal ring, gimbal housing... If it hit hard enough to move the drive against the steering cylinder internal pressure, it was HARD... You could have internal damage. As Merc don't publish any internals on those new style cylinders, and I have torn one apart yet, anything could have happened. But judging by the only drawing I did find (see below), it's possible, depending on clearances, to pop an 'o' ring in the control valve if the impact was sudden and very hard....

Chris..........

 

[rickasbury]

Ah crap....I can't imagine it hit with and force- the drive was up, the props hit the plastic number and it did not leave a mark. Could not have been anything like an obstruction hit while underway...I wonder if my insurance would cover this?

 

[achris]

Storm damage?

 

[rickasbury]

Well, it was a storm that rolled it back! By street if flatter than pee on a plate and have never chalked it...that was a lesson. My steering/out drive is easily turned by just one hand...when the boat drifted back it it straight and did not go to one side or the other and like I said did not leave a mark on the bumper BUT as far as I know, this noise started afterward.. I will get down there and look things over as I just did not have time after I pulled the boat after the run. Next two evenings are getting the boat ready for the forth. There was a "hot" power steering smell when I first opened the hatch to listen to the noise when we got back to the dock but it went away quickly.

 

[rickasbury]

achris did some checking ....

I checked fluid level on ps pumb and it was right where it said it should be. Cycled the steering 10x, engine not running and level did not change. Read somewhere it should be done not running and believe you said to do while running. Will try running tomorrow... If I leave the cap loose, is fluid going to fly all over? I want to leave it open to vent.

The other surprise, the fluid for the trim was gone and it was not cycling....I put new trim lines on it...one of the connections was a little wet but that could be from filling. Filled and it worked fine, no fluid on the trim cylinders so assume it is leaking where the hoses connect to the manifold. I did notice also the steering cylinder was also a little wet underneath but again the fluid level did not go down...a leaking seal? Hopefully all minor details...if the trim was not holding could the ticking be the out drive banging back and forth? Guess I will know tomorrow..

 

[achris]

Without fluid circulating (engine running) any air in the cylinder will just be moved up and down inside the cylinder (and no movement if the air is in any lines or the control valve).... You definitely need the engine running to displace any air anywhere in the system, as these are a fixed displacement pump.

No need to leave the cap off, as it's vented anyway. If you do, you might get a few drops splashing out. Being a fixed displacement pump (did I mention that before?) it's pushing quite a bit of fluid around, and it'll splash a bit... But nothing serious...

Chris........

 

[rickasbury]

I got the boat in the water and started it up and no ticking. Was chatting with someone at the dock for prob 10 mins....when I started to leave it was back and going away when you turn the wheel...gimbal @achris?