Retro fit power steering

[Duster]

Does anyone have any experiance of retro fitting power steering to the 3.0 Mercruiser?
Regards mikej

 

[spannerman]

You will need the servo pump with its mounting brackets, also the 'high pressure' hose from the pump to the servo cylinder which will mount in place of your existing steering on the transom assembly, you may be able to use the existing cable which attaches to the cylinder. Also the power steering oil cooler which is on the 'low pressure' return line and fits into the seawater hose coming from the transom. The crank pulley should already have a groove for the belt.

 

[Duster]

Thanks Steve,
The heavy steering is the one small fault with a new (to me) boat that I am otherwise very pleased with .It may be that I am "oversteering" whilst mooring due to not being used to the boat, but I would like to correct the problem if I can.
Regards mikej

 

[spannerman]

I don't know how old your boat is mikej, but if it is more than several years it could be that the steering cable is stiff, you can check it by pulling the cotter pin out where it connects to the steering arm and see if its easier with no load, if it is easier then see if its hard to move the steering arm, as the bushes at the top of the gimbal frame could be stiff, corroded.

 

[Duster]

Thanks, it is easy to ignore the simple solutions ,so I will check that out first as it would also check if the cable mechanism is tight. The boat is a 1998 Trophy 2052 and was previosely owned by a marine engineer in the US, everthing seems very well looked after but who knows? freeing off a bush would be a lot simpler than a power steering conversion.
Regards mikej