www.iFourWinns.com

All,

I just heard back from my mechanic and he tells me that the "steering cylinder" is "blown out" which is why all my power steering fluid from the starboard engine is ending up in my bilge. He tells me that since it is the starboard engine and right next to my generator....that he has no way to access it without pulling the engine. He's told me that the parts are around 1200 bucks but that the total job will cost near 5000 to complete.

Does this sound right to any of you? Has anyone else had to replace this cylinder?? Any comments would be welcome.

Thanks,

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Current Boat
- 2004 Four Winns 288 Vista "Pier Pressure"
* Dual 4.3 Volvo Penta GXie

Previous Boat(s)
- 2010 Sylvan 8520 Mirage F-N-C Pontoon

I had to replace my cylinder twice in the past year. The first replacement started to leak after a few months. The part for my 5.7 gxi was around $700 and labor about the same. They had to remove the exhaust elbow to get at it. Not a teribbly difficult job, just hard to access. I don't know your boat and I have never had an engine pulled so I'm not sure what the additional cost would be on top of the $1,500 I paid.

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2008 V338
Twin Volvo Penta 320hp DP

2002 268 Vista
1987 225 Sundowner
1986 170 Horizon
1975 Steury V415SS

I replaced the trim sender on both of my drives this spring and I had to lay on top of the engines and reach forward to get to the transom.... Not fun, and not really able to do much when stretched out like that. I'd have to take a second look, but hearing you have to pull the engin to get to the cylinder is not too hard to believe.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Is he saying then that it's 3800 for labor? What's the labor rate? If $100 per he that's 38 hrs!

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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

Figured I'd give ya'll a quick writeup after the work was performed.

I found another mechanic that was able to replace the actuator without removing the engines!!!!!

Cost for the entire job (Parts and Labor was just over $1500.

Now I just hope that I don't go through those things like water. I hate replacing the same parts over and over.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2004 Four Winns 288 Vista "Pier Pressure"
* Dual 4.3 Volvo Penta GXie

Previous Boat(s)
- 2010 Sylvan 8520 Mirage F-N-C Pontoon

That's more like it!
Can those cylinders be rebuilt by a hydraulic shop?

_________________
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

Leaks usually come from rod seals or a bad piston bi-directional sealing ring assembly.
Kits can be had for around $65.00