power steering-gctid803284

[Hoover]

Please help me understand this.

Bayliner 2455, year 1997

My steering is heavy. I mean like manual steering even though I have power steering.

There is no difference between steering with the engine off or with the engine on and power steering is in order.

No leaks, the cylinder is clean. Grease is applied. And yes, steering fluid is where it needs to be.

Again there is no difference with or without the engine running, steering is as hard...

Could it be the pump itself? has anybody ever heard of a clocked line?

I don't get why there is no difference. I am sure I am overlooking something simple.

Thanks for the help

[Pcpete]

It may be your steering cable. Disconnect it at the tiller on the drive then try the steering wheel. My guess is it will feel the same.

[builderdude]

This belongs in tech section.

Pump can go bad, belt tight? Like Pete said troubleshoot the cable first. How long has it been like this? was it ever easy?

[Ruffryder]

Moved
..........

[Ruffryder]

http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/in...ctuator#800458

[Hoover]

It has been like this forever...I guess I don't know any better but it is not right. There should be a significant difference when the engine runs and the power steering is activated.

Belt is tight..

How do you check the pressure? If the pump is bad there should be none.

But how do you check that?

[Hoover]

Oops, did not see Ruffryders link before posting..

Got it thanks

[Hoover]

One question since I don't know how it suppose to look :

Upon inspection I found that if you turn the cable coupler nut, you turn everything downstream with it. So the cable sleeve and the brass nut that connects to the power steering activator.

Is that normal?

I find this to be strange since I expected that if I turned the coupler, it should want to move on the thread. But everything moves with it. In other words, I can't loosen the coupler because everything turns with it.

If I knew how it suppose to work then I could troubleshoot it.

I want to remove the coupler so I can inspect the cable and the cable sleeve....

Cheers

[2850Bounty]

Perhaps this will help you.

This would be a Power Assist Steering system.

The belt driven hydraulic pump supplies fluid pressure for the Assist Cylinder.

Pressure is available and is applied only when the slave valve is activated.

As you turn the helm wheel, the inner cable itself wants to articulate the spindle arm.

The cable jacket undergoes the oposite thrust (resistance) from the inner cable movement (in either direction).

When the cable is trying to move the spindle arm, the outer cable jacket (via it's attachment and resistance) applies force to the slave valve.

Only when the resistance is absorbed by the slave valve will we see hydraulic assist.

If the slave valve is being activated, yet there is no Assist, check the pump presssure and/or slave valve's function.

.

[builderdude]

The nut should spin off of the threaded nipple. It may be that they're corroded together and you'll need to spin them both out and then attempt to get them apart from one another.

Your referring to this nut?

[Hoover]

Sorry for the late reply, I was traveling.

The nut yes. But mine looks nowhere near this picture regarding the power steering unit.

I will make pictures and send it so it is clear what I am referring to. Thanks for all the explanation I will upload pictures hopefully today.

Thanks again

[builderdude]

Newer style PA cylinder on your most likely. Not sure when they started using the newer style.

[Hoover]

How do I attach a picture?

I have a JPEG to show what I have but can't attach it or copy paste?

[Hoover]

I think I figured it out.

Look at the arrows.

When I turn the nut, arrow on the left, everything else turns with it ( arrow on the right.

I don't think that's right?

[builderdude]

Things do look a bit corroded in that area. I'd use some penetrating oil on it, let it soak for a while and grab the pipe nipple with a small pipe wrench or vise grips then give it a try. I'm not familiar with that newer style cylinder.