Steering Frozen

[goleft24]

It's been a long time since i wrote anything lately so here goes.Have a 96 Searay EXPRESS CRUISER 21.5 with 350/260hp alapha gen 2.I cant turn the wheel or the drive at all. I've done a lot of work on the drives and some motor work,however steering isn't something I have done alot of.Last time i got it free it acted normal,swings port to starboard.Drive all day: No problem. Leave the boat,come back in 3 days, It's back to being locked in place again. so i took off the high pressure side on the power assist line to move the drive over with my foot to free it up, but now it won't move at all again. Now thinking it is the cable,but i removed the steel pin that connects steering cable to power assist linkage and it still wont budge Can it be the power assist ram? And if it is ,are they easy to replace with boat in the water. Or could it be the Pump? Anyone had this happen? Any suggestions would be appreciated Thanx Mark

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Steering Frozen

Can't be the pump. You should still be able to steer with the motor off. Just harder.<br /><br />When you disconnect the cable, what won't budge? The steering wheel or the drive?<br /><br />I have seen a few that locked-up over a short time. I could get them to work by reefing on the outdrive sideways. But the next year and they'd lock entirely and need a cable. That's my guesstimate.

 

[Don S]

Re: Steering Frozen

It may very well be the cable end where it passes through the power steering unit. That tube is aluminum and can corrode easly on the stainless cable end. Try pulling the cable clear out of the power steering unit. Clean the tube and cable end and give it a try. <br />I have fixed many this way.<br />One other thing, make sure the cable is allowed to move fore and aft about an inch, plus side to side about 1/4" without any binding.