293 Steering at speed

[iceclimber]

Greetings. Got the 293 back in the water with quite a few fixes - one of which was the trim tabs - switch was replaced and previously one tab was not working at all - so stuck in one position. Now that they are working I am struggling with the steering "fine tuning" I will call it. When I get going and start to plane, any movement on the steering seems to cause instability. Not like we are all going to die, but very sensitive and drifting in one direction or the other with no input. When I try to correct with tabs either I am not doing it right or there is something else going on. I will add the steering gets very heavy under power, I filled the fluid and will check again. but I don't feel like power steering should get that heavy. Appreciate any tips, I come from a big flybridge that drove like a stable pussycat so this 293 is a fickle beast.

[Oldsride]

Check the play in your gimble housings. It is a common problem with Bravo threes. You always need to keep the top bolts torqued to 100 lbs. If they become loose and are driven it wears the housings and need to be replaced.

[iceclimber]

Appreciate it, will check it out.

[iceclimber]

Meant to post but forgot, I have Volvo Penta duoprops not Bravo 3's. One power steering reservoir is eating fluid and when I added it foamed so air is getting in obviously. That may be affecting my steering feedback. Looks like ATF was being used previously, not proper steering fluid. How did I find the bad steering ? Popped a distributor rotor and limped home on one motor with awfully stiff steering lol. Caps and rotors later and both motors are purring but now to locate my power steering leak.

[iceclimber]

Just wanted to update that the power steering issue was the cooler, so easy fix. Once it gets here lol. I am told it's a common issue from sloppy winterizing.

[AsLan7]

Thank you for the update iceclimber. Hopefully this can help another member too.
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[iceclimber]

Ah, no thank you all. I found an Ebay cooler for $45 and it did the trick. They make an aftermarket unit for $200+ but it's just a tiny heat exchanger. Also that motor had a starter that sound like it was bad, was told it was a motor pull and ring gear minimum. Nope, it was a loose then bent starter bolt. So, off with the exhaust riser out with the batteries and one $100 starter with new bolts later...or wait a bellows leak is spotted which may have in fact been throwing water on the starter. So, off with the outdrive and new bellows kit to find...bad gimble bearing which was .....brace yourself included with the kit. You need a gimbal bearing puller by the way. All that done, the starter sounds perfect, the new gimble bearing took half a tube or marine grease and all is....nominal. The power steering is light as a feather and she goes in the water tomorrow. Boat ownership is easy. Right ?