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Name:	John boy -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	7/31/2010 8:53:31 PM

My neighbor has a pontoon boat with a I/O mercruiser out drive with 3.0 engine. The problem is that it is very hard to ster , replaced the rack and pinion with a full rotary cable system. It is still hard to steer especially when pulling a tube or higher speed. The first rack and pinion stripped out and the cable was lubed. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Name:	BamaDave -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/1/2010 8:59:30 AM

Disconnect the steering cable at the transom to isolate the problem. After disconnecting, you will be able to see if the outdrive is stiff or if it's the steering cable. If the cable is still hard to move, replace.

Name:	John boy -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/1/2010 9:31:41 AM

Done that already,both parts work great but hard to steer under power. We cannot seem to find the problem the cable is not in a bind and has been lubed before installation.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/1/2010 10:30:35 AM

I hesitated to jump in, but in view of your last post will anyway. On my I/O ski boat there is actually power assist for the steering - with a pump much like an automotive power steering pump. If there is such a thing on a 'toon could it be that the pump is malfunctioning? I used to have drive belt problems with the ski boat, and when the belt broke it was really hard to steer.

Just a thought.....

Name:	John boy -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/1/2010 11:18:20 AM

No. it's just cable steer. I was thinking it could be the bushings that let it go right or left could be worn and get in a bind when under power.

Name:	Psycho -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/1/2010 2:08:18 PM

thats kinda what I was thinking...worn bushing or just needs cleaned and lubed. But that was a wild guess of mine

your question needs a cat scan...where ya at cat?

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/1/2010 2:10:52 PM

Has it always been hard to steer or is this a new problem? I'm not an expert on this, but my old boat was a 3.0 I/O and had hydraulic assist and it still didn't steer real easy. When I bought it used from Blue Creek I was told by Justin that they ordered all their boats with the optional hydraulic assist because they were very hard to steer without it.....I had asked the question because some of the boats I tested were hard to maneuver and it seemed like I was driving a battle ship.

When I purchased a new boat last fall, I discovered there are even different levels of hydraulic assist and it took the more advanced (and expensive) systems to get "car like" power steering.

Name:	houseboat -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/2/2010 1:24:45 PM

My father had an old pontoon boat that had problem with hard steering. He had someone put on a new cable but it was still harder than it should have been. I noticed that there were clamps under the floor supports that held up the cable and I wondered if the cable was in a bind where it was forced to bend. In most ski and bass boats that I have worked on the steering cable does not have any clamps from the wheel to the motor. Maybe you could remove any fasteners on the cable between the motor and the wheel and see if it frees up. Houseboat

Name:	houseboat -	Reply
Subject:	Need help on steering problem on I/O
Date:	8/2/2010 1:30:44 PM

You might check to see if your trim tab on the foot has been moved.

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	Sorry, I have been away...
Date:	8/2/2010 8:53:03 PM

In power steering failures, we always start at the business end of the boat. (Engine/Transom) Steering cables and helms, offer many years of service when kept properly adjusted. There is a reason, your helm/cable is broken, and you had to replace it. If it were here, I would look directly above the Prop and locate the steering torque tab located directly above the propeller blades. It should have a slight shift (it is a tab design) either one direction or the other. If it is missing, or is just flat it has been knocked off, eaten away as a sacrificial (spell) anoid or was never installed properly. I can't explain prop rotation and prop torgue here but you can call me. You can call the dogs off of your power steering pump, they RARELY go bad. Ya have checked the fluid?????? I'll be in the shop all day tomarrow. If you'll get me just a little more info, we'll get her nice and easy to steer on the phone. By the way, a 3.0 as tons of torgue. You must control it. P.S. Nite John Boy. ( :) Respectfully, Steve Houseboat prolly pegged this one.

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