2005 Alpha 1 Gen 2 play in steering??

[tfmech]

The boat is a 1989 baja 210 sport it has a 2005 5.7 and Alpha 1 gen 2 drive. I am trying to track down the extra play in the steering system. It has a good 45 degrees or so at the wheel. Here is what I have checked so far ad what I have found.

​First I figured I would check the gimble ring for the normal steering arm play. It is tight as new.

Second I checked the helm and steering cable and they are tight rack has no play and is tight.

​Third I hooked back up the steering arm to the power steering actuator with the cable still unhooked then went again and moved the drive back and forth to see what moved and it looks almost like there is air in the power steering ram. It moves a good inch or two before it stops same thing back the other way.

​Is there a procedure for adjusting the steering system, could it just have air in the system, what else do I need to check here?

 

[alldodge]

Play in the standard power steering system is normal. It is noticed while idling mostly, once rpm is much above idle its not noticed.

 

[tfmech]

Play in the standard power steering system is normal. It is noticed while idling mostly, once rpm is much above idle its not noticed.

I guess that is my question because the thing is about uncontrollable around the dock, or getting it on the trailer. How much play should it have?

When I move the drive with it attched to the power steering actuator it is like swinging a screen door then can feel it come up against fluid in the ram, then I can swing it back the other way just free swinging till it comes up against fluid. How much play should there be in it?

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

I have not measured recently but anything over a few inches would be excessive -- I think it should be about 1 inch. Can you watch the linkage while someone moves the drive ? The steering arm ( Between the drive & power steering system ) should move with the drive ( little or no play )

 

[Bondo]

When I move the drive with it attched to the power steering actuator it is like swinging a screen door then can feel it come up against fluid in the ram, then I can swing it back the other way just free swinging till it comes up against fluid. How much play should there be in it?

Ayuh,.... I'm guessin' ya did this with the motor, Off,..??...

If so, try it runnin',..... the slop will be gone,....

I guess that is my question because the thing is about uncontrollable around the dock, or getting it on the trailer.

V-hull wander,.... the usual cure is less operator input,.....

Yer in a boat, in the water,... water is dynamic,.... always movin',...
Not a car on blacktop,... blacktop is static,...

 

[tfmech]

I bled it at lunch time and it tightened up a lot, I haven't got a chance to check it again. I am going to fire it tomorrow and check it out with it running.

I am digging for problems because I have had a bunch of boats none of them have been as I'll handling as this one is at low speed. My first few were single cable manual steering outboards with worn out cables and they handed better then this thing does and they were all v bottoms besides the try hull and both would run in the 70s. I know they should drive and how to drive a boat but this one has me wondering and my couple buddies with older power assist system s on there boats steer just fine. Just trying to find out what is actually worn out so I just don't throw parts at.

 

[alldodge]

Just trying to find out what is actually worn out so I just don't throw parts at.

That is the thing, you might not have anything worn out.

If the PS pump is supplying fluid and pressure required, the rest is either, the helm gear is worn (not likely but possible), or the steering ram

 

[tfmech]

That is the thing, you might not have anything worn out.

If the PS pump is supplying fluid and pressure required, the rest is either, the helm gear is worn (not likely but possible), or the steering ram

I think it just had air in the system it all seems tight now, I fired it up and it had no play when running at the drive the steering wheel has way less play then it had before. There is a little play in the wheel but it just looks like the play of operating the steering valve like it should have. I will find out this weekend going to take it out sunday.

​It is funny we have a old power boat racer from new Zealand over here racing with us, and I forgot he was big into power boats ( gear heads surrounded by water who would have thought). I remembered and asked him and first thing he said is that it had to have air in the system. Said to go bleed if it still had to play the ram was leaking past the seals if everything else checks out.

​Thanks for the help!! I will post how it goes this weekend.