Need help and maybe lots of it

[Not a boat guru]

I bought a 1980 sea ray seville at the end of last season. Needed new u joint and gimbal bearing had that done at the shop last month. Put it in the water last week and realized the steering is stiff. I do not have a manual to read and I don’t have any idea what I am doing? Can someone please help me locate my problems. I understand I may need a cable or it may just need fluid. It is a 207 seville from what I understand any ways. I would really like to learn to do the service myself. Thank you very much. Also could someone please tell me if this is a good model to try and restore. Kind of learn as I go.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Your boat is 37 years old....it very well could need a cable. But you said "Fluid". Does your boat have power steering? Is it stiffer to steer one way than the other?

Answering those questions may help us pin the problem down.
Shawn

 

[Sublimetime]

Go in the bilge area and have someone else turn the steering wheel back and forth. You should see what moves from there, if there is a cable involved(?) remove the end of it from where it is attached and then move steering wheel again. If it is still stiff you know the problem is somewhere between steering wheel and cable end. If it frees up then the problem is downstream- something with the drive/gimbal/tiller.

 

[Not a boat guru]

Your boat is 37 years old....it very well could need a cable. But you said "Fluid". Does your boat have power steering? Is it stiffer to steer one way than the other?

Answering those questions may help us pin the problem down.
Shawn

Thank you. As of right now I am not really sure. I am still learning terminology and I believed that it does have power steering because it says “power steering” on the inboard, and the same on the outdrive if I am correct with my term usage. It does not appear to be any more stiff turning one way over the other. It was definitely quite a workout steering it for the hour I was on the lake. When I get home this weekend I will try to locate the end of the cable and see where it is connected and disconnect to see what happens.... Thank you. Ted

 

[Not a boat guru]

Go in the bilge area and have someone else turn the steering wheel back and forth. You should see what moves from there, if there is a cable involved(?) remove the end of it from where it is attached and then move steering wheel again. If it is still stiff you know the problem is somewhere between steering wheel and cable end. If it frees up then the problem is downstream- something with the drive/gimbal/tiller.

Thank you for your information. When I return back home this weekend I will try and locate the end of the cable and disconnect to see what happens. Thanks again.

 

[Not a boat guru]

Go in the bilge area and have someone else turn the steering wheel back and forth. You should see what moves from there, if there is a cable involved(?) remove the end of it from where it is attached and then move steering wheel again. If it is still stiff you know the problem is somewhere between steering wheel and cable end. If it frees up then the problem is downstream- something with the drive/gimbal/tiller.

And not to sound like a complete moron but my terminology might be off quite a bit but you did mention the “bilge” area and I am making a guess but that means where the “inboard” motor is?

 

[Boater420]

Correct, the bilge and engine compartment are terms used for the area where the inboard engine is housed.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Also to help your mastery of terminology if your boat has an open bow it is a model 200. If it has a closed bow, with a little cabin, it is a model 207. Does it say the word "Seville" somewhere on the boat? Sea Ray archives does not show a Seville for that model year. If you get a chance post some pictures of your boat.
Shawn

 

[Not a boat guru]

Well I finally made it home and I think I found the steering cable but looks like I may need to take things apart to find the end to disconnect. Here are some pictures of the boat and it does only say sea ray not seville. But in one picture it says v-207 ??

 

[NorCal Boater]

First off….I've seen worse, much worse. In some ways, my 1985 Cobalt that I am just finishing restoring, was worse.

Even tho it may say "Power Steering" somewhere on your boat I don't think you have power steering. If you did there would be a pump that runs off the engine just like a car. You have one belt going from crankshaft to water pump to alternator. But this makes things easier. Now we know your steering issue is not power steering related.

Chances are your steering cable needs lubrication or replacement altogether. Also, it appears the trim tab on the outdrive is missing. It would be a small grey fin just above the prop. This fin/tab counteracts the torque of the prop rotation. You will need this to prevent the boat from leaning one way while you are on plane and will make the boat want to pull to one side and be hard to steer.

The procedures for fixing all of these issues is on YouTube. Do a search there and you will find a ton of videos with step-by-step instructions. Have fun....

 

[Not a boat guru]

Should I be able to find the end of the cable fairly easy? Maybe I am just overlooking? I will definitely look at YouTube though. Thanks again

 

[Bt Doctur]

here you go
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A6R3.PDF

 

[NorCal Boater]

here you go
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A6R3.PDF

That's great info....I used it recently but, I don't think he has power steering on his boat. Doc.

 

[Handsome Transom]

After all the preventative maintenance I completed recently I wanted to address a hard steering issue . I took my grease gun out to the boat and lubricated the steering gear and cable unbelievable i put about a quarter of a large tube between the 2 fittings. I dont think the PO ever lubricated ir since new in 89. I also topped up the power steering pump which was only slightly low. Took it out and wow happiness. Im having fun this year getting all the overdue maintenance done on our old 268 very satisfying and feeling more confident with every turn of the wrench. So far seawater pump all hoses, engine cooling system flush,exhast tubes,butterfly valves .all fluids,new water heater . I encourage anyone with a new to them boat to go over everything no matter how good it looks at the surface there is lots to do and time well spent. By the time I'm done I'll know the ins and outs and be able to know what to do when things don't work as they should . I am so grateful for this forum and all the knowledge the great members here share. Now to figure out how to upgrade my membership and get the t shirt

 

[Sublimetime]

I'm not positive but I think I see a filling cap for the power steering down below water pump in the first pic.

The first thing you have to do is determine if that is a power steer pump. They look exactly like any power steering pump on any mid seventies to eighties GM car.

pull the cap off-- if it has a 3" stick /level indicator dipstick, that's the power steering.

 

[tdschafer]

I'm not positive but I think I see a filling cap for the power steering down below water pump in the first pic.

The first thing you have to do is determine if that is a power steer pump. They look exactly like any power steering pump on any mid seventies to eighties GM car.

pull the cap off-- if it has a 3" stick /level indicator dipstick, that's the power steering.

I agree. Looks like it may be right here:

 

[Saverio]

man that is tight!!!!
how do u change the plugs