Power Steering on 7.4GL Gas engine

[flyhigh123]

I've owned my boat for about 1 year now. I've always felt that my power steering was way to stiff At idle, i can barely turn the wheel. Once I get it up to 2k RPM, it turns much easier. Was hoping to be able to easily turn the wheel even at idle so that I can manuver better.

How do I tell if its the pump thats going bad? Could it be the actuator or moreso the pump? I'll check the belt tension as well. I'll check fluid levels.

For those with a similar setup, how does your power steering feel? Is this normal?

 

[alldodge]

Normally at idle the steering works easy and gets harder as rpm increases. It could be either so far as pump or actuator. Did the pump ever run low on fluid?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Corrosion in the aluminum tube cable end mount at the transom is fairly common, especially boatin' in brine,....

 

[flyhigh123]

The steering cable from helm to actuator is fairly new. However, i didnt really grease it really well when i installed it about 6 months ago. Maybe i should pull it and regrease it.

I'll check the fluid levels as well. I'll find out this thursday when i go to the boat.

But just to confirm, at idle it should be easy to turn the wheel?

 

[Bondo]

But just to confirm, at idle it should be easy to turn the wheel?

Ayuh,..... Correct,....

 

[Scott Danforth]

disconnect the cable from the outdrive. if the cable moves like butter, try to move the outdrive. if that moves like butter, then I would suspect crud in your ram

 

[flyhigh123]

What is ram? Thanks

 

[flyhigh123]

So its a leaky pump, no fluid. Going to pull the pump and replace it. Looking online, it seems like the reservoir and the pump are 2 pieces. How do they connect together?

 

[alldodge]

Not a VP guy, but if it uses the standard GM pump, the output fitting (pressure regulator) is removed and one stud. Then the Saginaw pump is removed from the housing.

Note: the difference between the automotive and marine PS pump is the pressure regulator. So if you get just the pump, need to keep the regulator