My 180 sportsman is steering hard.l have tried adding steering fluid and turning the wheel to get air bubbles out. I am missing something like the air bubbles are recirculating. Does the pint of steering fluid need to be vented?
Hard steering
- Thread starter joe t
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Hookup1
GreatGrady Captain
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The helm pump (steering wheel) has reversing valves in it. They don't like air. I have a small plastic bottle that I use to fill the helm pump with. Take the cap off to check the level. Top it off. Trim the motors down. Slowly turn wheel all the way to one side - then the other side. Keep adding fluid. Hopefully you can "burp" it.
It's possible the helm pump is bad (seals shot).
If you want to bleed the whole system it's probably 2 quarts. Search this site for procedure. I hang the fluid like an IV bottle. Use a bypass hose on cylinder. Put new o-rings on cylinder bleeders before you start.
It's possible the helm pump is bad (seals shot).
If you want to bleed the whole system it's probably 2 quarts. Search this site for procedure. I hang the fluid like an IV bottle. Use a bypass hose on cylinder. Put new o-rings on cylinder bleeders before you start.
You won't get the air bubbles out just be doing that. You have to bleed the system properly at the bleed valves.
But... what kind of fluid is in there, now? ATF?
What kind of fluid did you add? SeaStar?
Remove all of the old stuff and then flush/bleed the system with the proper fluid (SeaStar or equivelent). There's a good chance that that will make it nice again.
But... what kind of fluid is in there, now? ATF?
What kind of fluid did you add? SeaStar?
Remove all of the old stuff and then flush/bleed the system with the proper fluid (SeaStar or equivelent). There's a good chance that that will make it nice again.
Sea star fluid, the bleeder hoses came with the boat. I'll try bleeding the system again this year. Went through this last year , hoping for a permanent fix. Perhaps l didn't remove the air bubbles completely.
What kind of fluid was currently in there? When you bled it, was it a dark or red color?
Was it nice and easy after you bled it last year? Can you describe how you bled it? From your first post, it didn't appear that you know the proper procedure.
Having air in the system doesn't necessarily make it harder to steer - but it will make it feel bumpy/lumpy as you turn the wheel. Old/wrong fluid can cause it to be stiff.
Don't just bleed the bubbles out and stop. As I noted above, get rid of all the old stuff. You can suck it out - and then keep running new stuff through till it's clean.
As Bill mentioned, disconnect the steering from the engine and try moving it by hand - it should be easy.
I am about 100% certain, you didn't bleed it correctly but at the same time, you still may have other issues. To eliminate other possible causes, let me ask the following:
. Is the motor hard to turn when just sitting or hard to steer at speed?
Is it much harder to steer to one side versus the other?
Have you replaced your sacrificial 'zinc' tab recently?
Have you tried disconnecting the steering rod at the motor and see if the motor turns freely?
Also it may help to state the model and year of the boat/motor when asking questions.
. Is the motor hard to turn when just sitting or hard to steer at speed?
Is it much harder to steer to one side versus the other?
Have you replaced your sacrificial 'zinc' tab recently?
Have you tried disconnecting the steering rod at the motor and see if the motor turns freely?
Also it may help to state the model and year of the boat/motor when asking questions.