www.iFourWinns.com

I own a 97 Horizon with a 3.0. I bought the boat brand new and have very few complaints....until now. My power steering cylinder blew out on me, and I just replaced it today. I went to test it out and added power steering fluid, the hose from the pump to the cooler to the cylinder blew (at the cylinder). I replaced the hose, being 12 years old maybe that was the problem. Well not the case, it blew as well. The return line into the bottom of the power steering pump is clear of any obstruction. Oh, and the first sign of the problem was my line from the cooler to the cylinder blew off, I put it back on and put a new hose clamp on. The next time out in the boat is when the hose to the cylinder blew, then the cylinder blew. I think my problem is either the power steering cooler or the pump. Any ideas?

Good luck with fixing this....all I can think of is how much damn power steering fluid must be all over the place.

It does sound like there is some sort of obstruction in the system to cause enough pressure to start blowing things like that though.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

All the pump is doing is supplying hydraulic oil ( very well by the sound of it!). If the hoses etc are blowing after the cooler, the problem isn't the cooler. As you've changed the cylinder; it sounds like the cylinder is trying to move an immovable object.; is the steering free?

Graham

A lot of fluid.........in the bilge and on me!!!!

Yes, the steering is free on the trailer and with the muffs on (I would rather be on the lake). As I refill the power steering pump, I put a little in and turn the wheel to get any air out. It worked good for about three to five minutes, took fluid and I then added more fluid and the line blew off at the cylinder. Does the power steering cooler restrict the flow in any way to the cylinder?

The cooler is a heat exchanger; water passing through one part, the oil through the other. It's a stack of tubes with a jacket on the outside; I can't recall whether the oil is in the tubes or the jacket. Yes, if there is a blockage it would cause high pressure, but that would be between the pump and cooler, not the cooler and cylinder. Unless the cooler is on the return to the pump.

Graham

just for a mental note: the water goes thru the tubes cooling the oil surrounding it.

hELLo
I am no power steering expert. But something has changed. THe pump only puts out flow to the cylinder. Usually a relief valve of some type protects the pump from overpressure. WHat pressure does it take to move the cylinder? Seems like the device that protects the system from overpressurizing is not working. Did you double check, and hooked it back up the original way. What engine do you have? Sorry about all the questions.
fal

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CAPTAIN ZERO

As far as I can tell everything is hooked up the right way as there are specific fittings that go to the cylinder. The lower line that comes from the back of the power steering pump, that is the feed, stronger hose and screwed in fitting? And, the upper line that feeds into the back of the power steering pump is the return, not so strong hose and just held on by clamps? This is the line that goes through the cooler. The motor is a 3.0GS Volov Penta. My next step is to put air to the cooler to see if it will pass through, to make sure ther is no obstruction. In an unrelated matter a new power steering cylinder through OMC was quoted to me at $730.00, I was able to get a new, factory sealed unit from boatmotorrecyclers.com off e-bay for $299 and the communication and shipping was fast. I just wanted to throw that out there for anyone like myself, that could not afford the $730......Thanks Lee

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/fi/vol ... 18214.aspx
Attached what I can find on the hook up. I don't know if its the correct part but it will get you in the area where you can pick out the correct part. Note it is the european site. Couldn't get into the volvo usa site to show any steering hook ups. Well don't know how much more I can do. But I was intrested in trying to find out the information, or at least what I could find
Maybe the part you did buy might be the problem??
Over and out!
fal

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CAPTAIN ZERO

I think francless is right! I suspect the relief valve...unfortunately, the relief is built into the pump....

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Thanks for all the help and suggestions...... What I was able to find out after by passing the cooler, was that the system would work properly. I then put the air hose to the cooler and was able to blow out a small chunk of rubber that must have gotten in there when the power steering cylinder blew. The line to the cooler is the return line and some how that piece got in there. Once again thanks for the help. I should have done this first but as usual I was not thinking.