Stiff Steering

A

AquaNoob

New Member
Jan 14, 2011
52
NE Ohio
Boat Info
1976 SRV 200.
Engines
351 W 233 h.p.
Finally splashed my project and came up with a small list of things that need ironed out. The biggest concern on my list is the steering. It steers fine at idle but as I increase the throttle it increases stiffness of steering. It gets a little bit better after finding a sweet spot of trim, but I don't think it should take two hands to turn!

I took the transom end of the cable loose from the rod and checked both for stiffness when not hooked together, and as I thought they both seem pretty easy to move. I also adjusted the trim tab on the out-drive and that seemed to help a little bit.

What should I look at next? I cant seem to find a grease lug on the cable, is there one? Is there one on the rack location at the helm? I thought maybe the cable was bad but if it were wouldn't it be stiff when unhooked also?

Any help would be great before I start aimlessly tearing things apart until I find a solution!

Thanks!
 
I am now having the same problem - what did you ever find to resolve the issue?
 
Power steering belt slipping?
 
I was had a problem steering when at idle or docking last few years. Last summer july is was to the point I was have to take a lot of room to manuver the boat. It steered fine a cruise for the most part. I lube the cable up. I took the cable off the transom. Can't remember what I all done, but made up some hoses to go over the cable to the housing and with a pressurized it with Marvel Mystery oil till it come out up by the steering rack. Let it drip for a few days and then rapped rags around it to keep my carpet from getting oily. Steers smooth as glass now.

Belt sound like a possibity. If that not it. What I did to make sure it was not in the power steering was...unhooked the cable housing and manually run the spool valve. If it is very responsive, it's not the power steering and is in the rack. That can be hard to do when it freezing out. Next thing to do is check the pump output. Should be at least 1200psi. seen 1800psi. I just did my truck tonight, that was 1600psi at the steering stop. I do have a kit, (gauge,flow control, and adaptor's) to test this.
 
Can you just unhook the cable and see if the steering wheel is free? Or do you have to disconnect the pin at the end of the linkage and not disconnect the end of the cable? This is prior to the power assist.
I have a similar problem > hard to steer and reservoir is fine, belt is tight (I'll check rotation of the pump this weekend).
Do I need a special marine grade power steering fluid?
 
I pulled the pin out of the cable back by the transom.
 
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