Steering is hard

[Ramy]

Hi guys

The boat is a 2000 grady 265.

The problem is the steering. It's a two hand job to steer this boat going both ways left or right at any speed or trim. Its been like that from day since the day I bought it about eight months ago .

Please help.
Thank you.

 

[Andrew93]

It looks like your issue is very similar to a problem I had with my new to me 1999 sailfish this season. It looks like you have two different steering setups on the motor, the old and the new SeaStar system and they do not work well together. I only found this out after the piston fell off and nearly lost all steering in the river my boat is in, ended up having to pull the boat and address the issue. I even called SeaStar technical support and sent them photos and they were of no help. Here is the link to what I had to do.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23166&p=141412&hilit=272+steering#p141412

There could be some other problems, like if where the motor hinges, if its getting sticky, but removing the current steering arm will tell you if they are free or not. Mine were fine. The new linkage worked perfect and the steering is very tight and the piston is attached as it should be. The SeaStar part number I bought was HO6001.

Page 153 and 154 on the following link shows how your steering was most likely from the factory. Looks like someone replaced the steering cylinder with the new style and jammed it together. Took me a few days of endless internet searching to figure this out myself, but I bet your current cylinder is binding on something. I was almost ready to buy a new steering system and start from scratch, but the HO6001 part saved the day for me.

https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/u ... rStrg(v4_0)Parts.pdf

Looks like there is a hose clamp in one of your photos holding the steering cylinder up, if that is the case I bet that is the cause for the hard steering. Hopefully this all helps and I didn't confuse you more. Let me know if I can help anymore, boat is an hour away but I messed with it so much I have a good memory of it.

Andrew

 

[Ramy]

Great reply!

Thank you!

The clamp on the piston is from the old Raymarine auto pilot system.
Do you think that old system might have something to do with it?

 

[Andrew93]

That could have something to do with it also. I would defiantly look into the tie bar system though. When you disconnect the piston from he steering arm and the tie bar bracket each motor should turn side to side with ease, my boat was on a slight tip in the driveway and the motor would turn to that side even. When the piston is disconnected see how the steering feels without any connected, that will tell you if there is a problem somewhere else, if it turns easy then it should be the linkage.

I am not familiar at all with autopilot systems and what other components may be involved. Either way I would look into updating the tie bar system like I did. I found the HO6001 kit new on eBay for $225 shipped over the summer. It was easy to put on, had to cut 2 pieces to length.

 

[journeyman]

Just a thought... Have you checked / bled the steering fluid? If you have "power assist steering" it is hard to turn without motors running. Could be the pump, fluid level, air etc.

 

[Ramy]

Again thank you for all the great help and advice.

Boat has no power steering.

I have added fluid to the steering helm never done anything more than that.

I will check a few of the things today and get back to you.

 

[TUNAHUNTER197]

Have the same boat. Do you see any hydrolic steering fluid leaking out the seals on each side of the cylinder? Turn port than starb then back to port and run your hand on the seals to see if fluid is leaking. If not, you might have air in the steering system. As suggested before, bleed the lines and refill with new hydrolic steering fluid. There are youtube videos on how to fill the helm correctly, one thing they don't state is this is a two beer job! Good luck.

 

[Ramy]

Ok guys quick update on what I did.

Ok so I took of the tie bar from the the secondary motor. leaving the Main motor on its own.
Then I went to the helm and turn the wheel. I must say it was at least half as hard.


Then I went to the back of the boat and turn the secondary motor by hand. And that's where the question comes from. Is that normal to be pretty dang hard to do? Because I had to put all I have into it :shock:

I sprayed the turning point of the motor with coroxion x and I'll try it again later or tomorrow.

What do you guys think?


Thank you all. :hmm

 

[Andrew93]

Mine moved with ease. From what I remember they would turn on their own with the slight angle of the boat in the driveway when trimmed down. Any "stiffness" I would think would be a problem. Maybe try and work it with PB Blaster or another penetrating oil over a few days?

 

[Ramy]

Yes.

Tomorrow I will see if any improvement was made.

And I will also take the hydraulic off the motor and give it a few turns to rule out the system.
Then I will check both motors for stiffness to see if we can track down the problem.

I will keep you up to speed.

Thank you.

 

[DennisG01]

Yes, the motor by itself should turn very easily. A 6 year old can do it.

 

[Harpoon]

The tech support department at Seastar are pretty good. They can walk you through most repairs.

 

[Ramy]

OK guys quick update from today. When I got home from work I went to the boat and turn the wheel if you times. I believe the steering has improved by about 25%.

I had a more lubricants to the motor.
And I began to bleed the system however I ran out of through it rather quickly.

I will check on it tomorrow again to see if it improves some more.

I'll let you guys know thank you.