Newbie - Steering 270 DA

Discussion in 'Sport Cruisers' started by Skipper 1142, Mar 26, 2023.

  1. Skipper 1142

    Skipper 1142 New Member

    1
    Mar 26, 2022
    Potomac River
    1999 SeaRay 270 Sundancer
    7.4 MerCruiser Bravo III
    Hi Team - my new to me 1999 270DA has heavy steering last season. I am replacing the Bravo 3 and want to check everything as I do. Should the bell housing/ stern drive move by hand from the outside of the boat OR should it only move from turning the steering wheel?

    I plan to remove the steering cable and see how that moves once disconnected, but noticed today that I couldn’t move the stern drive / bell housing left to right, by hand, outside the boat.

    Thanks for your inputs!
     
  2. Nater Potater

    Nater Potater Well-Known Member GOLD Sponsor

    Oct 19, 2020
    Southwest Idaho
    1992 300DA Sundancer
    Twin Merc Alpha I Gen II I/O's with 5.7 V8's
    Older boat ('92 with twins), but it's all I can do to move the outdrives by hand. The power steering doesn't allow much to come back up the line when on the hard with dead engines. Check to see if yours has an inline oil cooler. Mine went bad a couple years ago, contaminating the fluid with water. I caught it early on and was able to save the system with a thorough flushing. Make sure there's no "pink milk" in your P/S pump. And, welcome to the forum!
     
  3. Brite Idea

    Brite Idea Active Member

    415
    Nov 5, 2011
    Long Island, New York
    2010 310 Sundancer
    270 Sundancer 2000
    twin 5.0 ECT Bravo III's
    twin 4.3 TBI Merecrusier Alpha Gen II counter rotating drives
    The drive won't always move when you push on it left to right or right to left. If you disconnect the steering cable it's still hooked up to the steering assist cylinder. I had the same boat and when the steering cable started to get tight it overworked the steering assist cylinder and I ended up having to replace that also. I'm betting that you have a bad steering cable and you're going to find that out when you disconnect it and it's still difficult to turn.
     

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