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I have a 2005 240 Outrage and totally lost steering while under power. I turn the wheel with no reaction. Any ideas of what could cause this?

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Hydraulic steering?

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Check you hydraulic fluid, will need to get it bleed if it is low, otherwise it will need to be sent in for repairs.

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Thank You! I will check in the daylight.
Interesting trip home yesterday!. I was 20 miles from home and had a friend in another boat with me. Towing would take hours so we steered the motor manually. worked great in open water and then used the tow when near objects; stressful but quicker trip in.

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Walt, It is a Verado and Mercury is proud of it's special power steering system.

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Just did a thorough check. The fluid was very low. I added almost a quart of fluid and started the motor. The power steering motor runs and the fluid drained quickly...within a minute of adding to the reservoir and turning the wheel. And I could also hear fluid in the steering column at the helm. Now to find where the fluid is going. I don't see any leakage at the pump nor at the hoses. I will have to buy more fluid to add and test again.

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If it’s a Verado – check the steering cylinder/seals back by the engine – probably leaking into the engine pedestal if you can’t see a leak/oily residue on the outside, etc

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Formika, not to get too far off topic but how did you steer it manually? I would have guessed the torque of the engine would have been too much to counter unless you are going very slow.

Are most hydraulic systems designed to have a failsafe condition in case a line bursts to prevent the engine from torqueing out of control?

I'm a big fan of hydraulic steering but have always wondered about that scenario.

Thanks!

John

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John,
No help on steering without but when you have a broken line.....freewheeling. Low fluid might leave a little friction. I am not sure how the hydraulics are set up on Formika's boat but the systems we have.......the hydraulic pump is the turning of our steering wheels.
Garris

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VA Whaler, we sat at the stern, one guy on each side on the outboard. A pilot told us direction to turn and we pushed with our feet. Crazy but faster than a tow. We had a chase boat nearby.

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Thanks everyone. I see fluid leaking from the top of the steering tube on the engine where it connects to the steering arm.

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That must have been pretty wild to see. I thought maybe you roped a couple paddles, boathooks, etc to the side of the engine and used it like a tiller.

So when you lost the steering, did the engine swing wildly to one side while under power or did the engine just remain stationary when you turned the wheel?

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I am a FIRM believer in a SEATOW membership, be it sail or power, you cant beat a insurance policy against malfunction and it's not that expensive!
P.S. Hydraulic steering best be bled by the EXACT directions, if you don't have them or don't feel confident on doing the job yourself you should seek a dealer. Air in the lines could cause another episode of the same, it isn't worth the risk.

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I have a TowBoat membership for many years and also had a friend with me with a tow rope. At 5 mph it would take us 4 hours to do the 20 miles plus the time for the TowBoat to get to me on Mother's Day. So we opted for the man steering
When I lost steering the engine stayed straight so much I didn't know for a while. Then the rotation of the prop turned me to the starboard.

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Why didn't you just use the membership? with the motor strait why didn't you make the call? At 5 mph it would have been a 4 hr cruse from 20 miles out.

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Thanks Formika. I assumed the engine would swing uncontrollably if you had a blowout/leak. Guessing there are valves in that steering assembly that keep the engine mostly stationary for awhile at least.

Glad you were able to get home safe. I'll have to keep that steering method in mind should it ever happen to me.

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I believe that if hydraulic steering works the way I understand, there are stop valves which prevent the system from NOT keeping pressure and holding course, that may be why they had to use leg power to pivot the engine John?

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Jeff I always and still have Sea tow membership. My problem is I'm not in an area where there is much available.
If I'm 20 miles out on Lake Michigan I'm out of luck it will be a lot longer than 4 hours to get back. It will be 4 hours before I would be able to drum up a tow plus the trip back, we are talking a whole day. (don't ask me how I know)

Bob it was great for you to have a crew with strong legs.

If possible carry spare parts/tools and always hope you don't have to use SeaTow.

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At speed the water flowing past the lower unit will keep the motor from flopping about, but steering torque will turn the boat.

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The check valves you mention are in the pump at the steering wheel, so at some point of low fluid they become nonfunctioning.

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NOT HYDRAULIC STEERING. The six cylinder Verados use true automotive style power steering with a pump, etc.