270 Sea Ray Sundance Steering ???

[Dobber]

I am new on this site and still trying to find my through everything. I have a 2000 Sea Ray 270 Sundancer with a single 7.4 litre engine. My steering ( Power Steering ) at slower speed seems to have a great deal of play in it. It seems to want to go every direction except straight. I understand the nature of these smaller boats not wanting to go straight as I also had a 260 Wellcraft with a single engine. There is about a quarter turn of slack in the steering wheel without the outdrive moving. Is there any adjustments I can make to help remedy this situation?

 

[Tonka Boater]

<deleted>

 

[Groucho]

I had a 270 until recently...
Much of your wig wag back and forth is due to pressure changes in the vortex near your outdrive.
My wheel had lits of slop in it as well..You will get used to it.

 

[Dave M.]

You may wish to find out where the slop in the steering system is coming from. It is my experience that it may occur in three places:

1. In the helm unit, where you turn the wheel but the steering cable does not move. It is a rack and pinion system there. It is possible, but not probable, that you could have loose bolts connecting the steering shaft parts to the steering cable rack. But you can look under there and see. This all assumes it works like my '96 270 DA.

2. In the power steering assembly. The only place that it seems there would be slop here is in the pin that connects the steering ram to the outdrive steering level. You could feel it while someone turns the wheel and see if it feels like there is slop.

3. In the outdrive, at the upper swivel pin. Could be between the gimbal ring and the swivel pin, or more likely between the swivel pin and the steering lever. I just had to replace my swivel pin and steering lever because of this problem.
http://destinsharks.com/v/howto/bravo3/swivelpin.jpg.html

I just checked my boat. With the engine not running, I have less than 1/8 turn of free play in the steering wheel, turning it lightly. You can tell from the sound and feel that it is coming from the behind the helm, where the steering shaft meets the steering cable.

Also, with the engine lowered and not running, I have 1/8 inch of freeplay back and forth when moving the outdrive from side to side. This checks the slop in the swivel pin area and the pin between the steering arm and the steering cable end assembly. Before I replaced my swivel pin and associated parts, it was well over an inch of freeplay.

I would suggest that any excess play in parts from the PS unit on back are cause for concern.

 

[knfuller13]

You may wish to find out where the slop in the steering system is coming from. It is my experience that it may occur in three places:

1. In the helm unit, where you turn the wheel but the steering cable does not move. It is a rack and pinion system there. It is possible, but not probable, that you could have loose bolts connecting the steering shaft parts to the steering cable rack. But you can look under there and see. This all assumes it works like my '96 270 DA.

2. In the power steering assembly. The only place that it seems there would be slop here is in the pin that connects the steering ram to the outdrive steering level. You could feel it while someone turns the wheel and see if it feels like there is slop.

3. In the outdrive, at the upper swivel pin. Could be between the gimbal ring and the swivel pin, or more likely between the swivel pin and the steering lever. I just had to replace my swivel pin and steering lever because of this problem.
http://destinsharks.com/v/howto/bravo3/swivelpin.jpg.html

I just checked my boat. With the engine not running, I have less than 1/8 turn of free play in the steering wheel, turning it lightly. You can tell from the sound and feel that it is coming from the behind the helm, where the steering shaft meets the steering cable.

Also, with the engine lowered and not running, I have 1/8 inch of freeplay back and forth when moving the outdrive from side to side. This checks the slop in the swivel pin area and the pin between the steering arm and the steering cable end assembly. Before I replaced my swivel pin and associated parts, it was well over an inch of freeplay.

I would suggest that any excess play in parts from the PS unit on back are cause for concern.

HI Dave. I have a 93 270DA and last season I noticed it was getting hard to steer and I had a lot of play in the wheel. This year when I launched I was barley able to get to my slip because it was so difficult to turn. Since I got it to the slip the wheel will only turn till it runs out of play then nothing. I looked under the helm and it looks like the rack and pinion bolts are loose and leaking grease out of the end of the shift. Do you know what would be a comparable replacement and will that fix the steering issue?

 

[Nater Potater]

HI Dave. I have a 93 270DA and last season I noticed it was getting hard to steer and I had a lot of play in the wheel. This year when I launched I was barley able to get to my slip because it was so difficult to turn. Since I got it to the slip the wheel will only turn till it runs out of play then nothing. I looked under the helm and it looks like the rack and pinion bolts are loose and leaking grease out of the end of the shift. Do you know what would be a comparable replacement and will that fix the steering issue?

Click on Dave's avatar and you'll see that he hasn't been here in over ten years. No worries; it happens all the time. I've responded to many a thread that hasn't been looked at in a very long time.

As for your steering issues, with a thirty-year-old boat, the Teleflex cable can get pretty gummed up. Check for a Zerk fitting back by where the cable anchors into the transom plate, and pump some grease into it. Depending on how long it's been, it'll take some "exercising" to get the grease worked throughout the cable to the bad spot. Now, for the rack and pinion leaking grease, it's not uncommon, especially when subjected to the summer sun, to drip some grease. That's not an indication that there's any problem with it. The bolts are probably loose from you having to fight the stiff steering. Snug them up, and see if the grease doesn't help the cable. Worse comes to bad, you'll have to replace the cable.

If you have power steering, these things still apply, plus the complications from the hydraulic system.

 

[knfuller13]

Click on Dave's avatar and you'll see that he hasn't been here in over ten years. No worries; it happens all the time. I've responded to many a thread that hasn't been looked at in a very long time.

As for your steering issues, with a twenty-year-old boat, the Teleflex cable can get pretty gummed up. Check for a Zerk fitting back by where the cable anchors into the transom plate, and pump some grease into it. Depending on how long it's been, it'll take some "exercising" to get the grease worked throughout the cable to the bad spot. Now, for the rack and pinion leaking grease, it's not uncommon, especially when subjected to the summer sun, to drip some grease. That's not an indication that there's any problem with it. The bolts are probably loose from you having to fight the stiff steering. Snug them up, and see if the grease doesn't help the cable. Worse comes to bad, you'll have to replace the cable.

If you have power steering, these things still apply, plus the complications from the hydraulic system.

Yes I believe it has power steering but not entirely sure. I'm thinking about just replacing the helm unit and cable since the boat is 20 years old.

 

[Nater Potater]

Yes I believe it has power steering but not entirely sure. I'm thinking about just replacing the helm unit and cable since the boat is 20 years old.

On a 270, I'd be surprised if it didn't have power steering.

Without knowing for sure, I'd bet your helm unit is okay; just the cable. Of course, it's hard to make any sort of judgement call over the internet. I've only seen one bad R&P through the years, and that was when a tooth got broken from reefing on the wheel from a bad cable (hint-hint). YMMV

As for the power steering, think Chevy V8, because that's what you're dealing with back in the bilge. The pump sits high in front of the port-side valve cover. Check for clean fluid, or any fluid, for that matter. After sitting for 4-plus years, mine had that all-too-familiar strawberry milkshake look. Believe it or not, it recovered after a couple of full-fluid flushes, so there's hope.

 

[knfuller13]

On a 270, I'd be surprised if it didn't have power steering.

Without knowing for sure, I'd bet your helm unit is okay; just the cable. Of course, it's hard to make any sort of judgement call over the internet. I've only seen one bad R&P through the years, and that was when a tooth got broken from reefing on the wheel from a bad cable (hint-hint). YMMV

As for the power steering, think Chevy V8, because that's what you're dealing with back in the bilge. The pump sits high in front of the port-side valve cover. Check for clean fluid, or any fluid, for that matter. After sitting for 4-plus years, mine had that all-too-familiar strawberry milkshake look. Believe it or not, it recovered after a couple of full-fluid flushes, so there's hope.

Actually thinking about it my friend a few slips down flushed the power steering for me last season because the steering was getting stiff. I was thinking of doing the rack and pinion because I seen one that cones with the cable and is about the same price as the cable itself.

 

[knfuller13]

Oh and it's not stock either. The previous owner had a 496mag installed with a fresh water cooling system and the mercruiser smartcraft stuff

 

[knfuller13]

On a 270, I'd be surprised if it didn't have power steering.

Without knowing for sure, I'd bet your helm unit is okay; just the cable. Of course, it's hard to make any sort of judgement call over the internet. I've only seen one bad R&P through the years, and that was when a tooth got broken from reefing on the wheel from a bad cable (hint-hint). YMMV

As for the power steering, think Chevy V8, because that's what you're dealing with back in the bilge. The pump sits high in front of the port-side valve cover. Check for clean fluid, or any fluid, for that matter. After sitting for 4-plus years, mine had that all-too-familiar strawberry milkshake look. Believe it or not, it recovered after a couple of full-fluid flushes, so there's hope.

I was the first one in the water this year and then I couldn't steer. It was a pain getting to its slip from the ramp lol and thank you for your help. It's not easy finding info on these older SeaRays

 

[Lazy Daze]

Fuller, with a 30 year old system, it's definitley due for some attention. Unfortunately, it's too bad it wasn't done while the old engine was removed! As Mr. Idaho mentiond, the most common thing to go bad is the cable... but also like he said, it's to diagnose things from where we are. BUT... remove the steering arm pin and see if it still difficult. If it is - it's mostly likely the cable. If it's now easy to steer, then the issue is with the the rack or the outdrive. Next, with the pin removed, you can also do a check by manually moving the drive.

 

[knfuller13]

Fuller, with a 30 year old system, it's definitley due for some attention. Unfortunately, it's too bad it wasn't done while the old engine was removed! As Mr. Idaho mentiond, the most common thing to go bad is the cable... but also like he said, it's to diagnose things from where we are. BUT... remove the steering arm pin and see if it still difficult. If it is - it's mostly likely the cable. If it's now easy to steer, then the issue is with the the rack or the outdrive. Next, with the pin removed, you can also do a check by manually moving the drive.

I am going there today to check that. I don't think it's anything in the stern end because the gimbal and outdrive were all replaced in Sept, 2021. I was looking through my paperwork and found the SeaRay replacement parts list and it shows two different steering cables for my boat one is 18.5ft and the other is 19.5ft. I'm thinking about just ordering the 20ft kit I seen on Amazon.

 

[Nater Potater]

View attachment 142608
I am going there today to check that. I don't think it's anything in the stern end because the gimbal and outdrive were all replaced in Sept, 2021. I was looking through my paperwork and found the SeaRay replacement parts list and it shows two different steering cables for my boat one is 18.5ft and the other is 19.5ft. I'm thinking about just ordering the 20ft kit I seen on Amazon.

Make sure to get something very close to stock, as there's no room to coil up any extra length. The cables are quite stiff in the bigger sense, and don't take kindly to unnecessary swoops and dives.

 

[techmitch]

I was the first one in the water this year and then I couldn't steer. It was a pain getting to its slip from the ramp lol and thank you for your help. It's not easy finding info on these older SeaRays
View attachment 142599

Beautiful pic and real nice boat with the 496 Mag & Bravo 3.

These guys have you headed/steered in the right direction.

 

[knfuller13]

Ok. Here's the update. I was having trouble pulling the old cable out because of the nut on the end of the cable. I had it 2/3 out when it got stuck. I found the mark that said it was the 19.5ft cable, so I ordered the 20ft. I ended up cutting the old cable just above the deck in the little cubby it was in. Then tapped a small 1/4" rope on it and pulled it the rest of the way up to the helm. New cable went in in 15min super easy, but the new cable didn't fit in the old helm. I had to go buy a puller to pull the steering wheel installed the new helm and then Dec I wanted a new smaller steering wheel. That came in and the boat is now turning with only 1 finger on the wheel. Then I had a local handyman drop the new AGM 31 batteries in it. The marina is 3 weeks out on work orders =/. But the handyman only charged me $40 I was amazed. I gave him 80 cuz I felt bad that the batteries were heavy and he had to bring them from my car down to the boat.