www.iFourWinns.com

Out on Saturday for a good day on the lake with the family.

Coming back was a little difficult, my steering began acting up. It would feel like the wheel was all the way one way, but the boat was still going straight. A little extra pressure managed to get past that point and I could steer. This started as I was puttering around the ramp waiting my turn I didn't notice it before, of course I really wasn't doing a lot of turning going across the lake. So I have been searching the net and the forum and I didn't have any fluid in my bilge...so I read that I may need to grease my steering ram? Feeling stupid but I have no idea how...is it time to call my mechanic? Other thoughts?

TIA,

_________________


Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

I'm not familiar with the set up on the Volvos but if you get back in the engine compartment and have someone work the steering back and forth and look behind the engine you will see a polished cylinder going in and out of a larger housing. This is the steering actuator and the polished surface needs to be greased. On the OMC Cobra there is a grease fitting that I grease also 1x a year. In salt water you must grease these often or else they freeze up. The stiffness could also be in the steering unit under the helm but try the grease first. I like OMC/Bombardier triple guard blue....

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks Lou, I hope that's all it is. I am a little confused though...if this is inside my engine compartment and it never gets wet..does the grease just dry up? And do i get a can like this;



or will I need it in a grease gun? Sorry the boat is in storage 17 miles away and I can't find any pics of what the actuator cylinder looks like or where it is located. So when I go to try to troubleshoot I want to have all I need with me.

Thank again Lou, you're always the first to respond!

_________________


Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Yes that's the stuff I get it from a local Evinrude dealer.
See if you can go on to:
http://www.crowleymarine.com

Look in the OMC parts section, look yours up as if it were a '96 OMC Cobra (keep on mind the joint venture years OMC + Volvo are the same)
Look at the Power steering section and you should see a diagram of what you have. It's either in the steering section or the transom mount section.
My OMC has a grease fitting on the actuator assembly, not sure if the joint venture models do.

This grease does not dry up but it does wears off. The shaft is supposed to get greased at least every year. Mine is so smooth it's like old school power steering that you spin around with one hand.
I get it in the squeeze tube. For the grease fitting I have a grease gun with Pennzoil Marine grease, I also use it for the gimble bearing and u-joints. I use the triple guard on the driveshaft splines

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

My 248, the steering actuator can be seen inside the engine hatch on the wall of the transom (behind the engine). I use standard marine grease twice a year. It doesn't have to get wet for corrosion to start in a humid (on the water) environment.

Also, just a suggestion, check your power steering fluid (sorry, had to state the obvious).

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

Thats the same grease I use on my steering rams and other systems. Its actually a pretty handy (tacky) grease thats great for anything thats subjected to moisture!

_________________
1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Lou, Thanks for that link..I am looking there but cannot find my engine exactly...my model is a 58FAPHUE (I used OMC-Stern-Drive 1996 5.8 58FBPNCA) but I looked at the power steering pump break out and the power steering cylinder. I get where they are..although I did not see the actuator I did see the steering arm on the transom mout assy.

But it sounds like Taz answered that..and also stated the obvious which I never though about "Check to see if there is power steering fluid"...I should probably do that as well. Thanks.

_________________


Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Bookmark this site for yourself...

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/OMC/S ... parts.html

Thank you!

Strange that I have to use the 1995 to match my model, the boat is a 1996?

_________________


Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Sometimes you have a power package that's a year older than the hull year; you can get your engine/drive years from the serial #s...

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

That's so common that I would say to EXPECT the power package to be a year older than the boat.

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

When my actuator was leaking, the hard steering and low fluid in the power steering pump were the noticeable signs - I never did see any fluid in the bilge....

_________________
2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Ok finally got to the boat...the power steering pump is low. Odd I never noticed anything in the bilge...but I have had her about two and a half years and honestly probably never looked at it. My mistake. Question though I asked the local dealer and he said to look at what color is in there now and refill with that (meaning if it's clear use ps fluid, red use ATF etc.) well I looked and it's red, so I bought the Lucas oil synthetic blend ATF fluid and want to make sure from the forum here that that sounds right? Sorry I am not confident in adding automatic transmission fluid to my power steering pump, but everyone I have asked so far says it's fine...just wanted 1 more yes vote.

Thanks,

_________________


Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Yep I used ATF when I replaced a previous power steering pump an a Sea Ray.

Also note that if you are loosing power steering fluid and you cant see any oil in the boat you may have a leak in your power steering cooler which will leak fluid into the cooling water and out the exhaust.

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Thanks! Filled her up maybe a couple of oz. fired her up and moved the steering freely in both directions. Checked still shows full. Hopefully I'll get her on the water tomorrow to see. Greased the actuator as well.

_________________


Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi