Power steering hose failure

YYZRC

My PS hose has a small leak where the fitting goes into the pump. I think I will swap the hoses port to starboard and put a shorter belt on the port motor to bypass the PS pump. 

johnny44

@LaRea @aero3113

I had an issue this weekend like LaRea had previously - cruising along at 3800 RPM when the power steering hose blew. Kinda scares the heck out of you when the boat just suddenly pulls to the starboard side when you are moving that fast.
(LaRea's pictures in the other post looks exactly like my hose that blew off the fitting). Unfortunately, my power steering pump is fried. I just found an Mercury OEM one on ebay for a pretty good price and it will be an exact replacment.

The two questions that I have:
1. LaRea used hose number 32-8M0063021 and Aero used hose number 32-8M0063020. Any difference between the two? (I can't seem to tell...not sure which one to buy).

2. Since I am replacing the power steering pump, should I also replace the pulley? (anyone have a part number for that pulley?)

(I had just cleaned my engine bay that morning too!)

YYZRC

@johnny44 you could swap the port PS pump/hoses to starboard and just install a shorter belt on the port side. Another member on here had this setup (maybe @blackdiamond ?)

davidbrooks

@johnny44.  The pulley can be pulled from your old PS pump.  You will need to get the tool to pull it and press it on the new pump.  Just make sure it is all lined up when you get it all together.  IMO you don't have to buy a MerCruiser pump.  You can actually use an aftermarket car PS pump.  The most critical thing though is to remove the origonal flow control valve and spring and use it in your new pump.    This is the one that i bought for mine.  Amazon.com: DYRDINSHOW Power Steering Pump for Mercruiser Volvo Penta OMC Replaces#18-7508, 3863130, 3888323, 16792A39 : Automotive

johnny44

Thanks everyone for the information. I called Mercury. For anyone who happens to run into this in the future, here is the information that they gave me:

For a Mercruiser 350 MAG Seacore, the power steering pump number is: 16792A39 (So I could use the pump @davidbrooks listed)

The pressure hose number is 8M0063019

I asked what the difference between the 8M0063019 and the 8M0063020 that @aero3113 had listed...and what they told me is that the 3019 was for Seacore engines. 

What?? That's what they told me anyway.

johnny44

@aero3113 - are your 350 Mag SeaCore engines?
The Seacore power steering hose is out of stock until September 18th. I called Mercury and asked them the difference between the Seacore and the one you used - they said the length and corrosion resistance. 
The Seacore length hose is 60" and the one you used is 52 1/2".  I am wondering if I can just order the one you used if it will be long enough (I am unable to take a measurement of my current one)

YYZRC

@aero3113 's engines are not Seacore.

aero3113

I didn’t have any issues with mine…. Strange.

johnny44

Yeah I agree. Took me 4 hours today, but I found a Seacore hose in stock in Canada. And it is going to cost me a pretty good penny to have it shipped to get here for the weekend. Oh and by the way - the seacore hoses are $125 more expensive. I have a feeling I could have used the other one that aero used. 

Thanks again for everyone's feedback

aero3113

When you install it, route it through from the back of the engine first, lightly screw in the fitting at the pump, then connect the quick disconnect. Once everything is connected and you like how the hose is routed, tighten the fitting at the pump.

rasbury

@johnny44, what motor do you have? My 350 takes a std Saginaw PS pump you can get at most autoparts- they also transferred the pulley for me to. 45 bucks I think it was? These are std v8 gm motors...far as I know bearings, everything the same except the water parts..

johnny44

@rasbury I have twin Merc 350 MAG Seacore. After a ton of hours searching online, I ended up buying this one off of Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLC67Y1R?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I agree, there are probably cheaper ways of doing it. Problem is, I kinda of a "tweener". Some work I can do really well (like electrical). Some work I just don't have the tools for. Other times I sometimes just don't have the time because of my job.
This is one of those where I don't have the tools or the complete knowledge even though it seems relatively simple and straightforward - mechanical is not always in my wheelhouse. When that happens, I try to figure out all of the parts that I need and buy them myself at the best price. (Some of these parts are out of stock until September so I ended up chasing them down in Canada.) I do have a mechanic I can trust who will do some of the work for me and I am not paying the yard (which is owned by a corporate conglomerate whose only function is to maximize every square inch of the marina for profit but whose communication skills are second grad level at best). 

That is one of the reasons I bought a Ring cameral like @aero3113 posted - to question (when I do have the marina do work) why I am being billed for 7 hours of work for a job that should only take two and the person wasn't even on the boat for half the time!

That is one of the reasons why I absolutely love this site. You can search for anything and chances are it has been covered 3 times over. I search for Ring Camera, and bingo - aero already has the setup that I can copy. I search of power steering hose failure and @LaRea has multiple posts about what he went through.

This site is invaluable to someone like me who has just enough knowledge to be dangerous. It really has saved me so much time and has helped me out tremendously.

rasbury

I'm right there with you @johnny44. You see how many posts I have? It wasn't sharing my knowledge,  it was begging for help. Awesome site. Be sure to stick around.

YYZRC

Bypassed the port pump today so that I can use the hoses on starboard side (I have a small leak at the fitting). 

Gates K061015 is the belt I used. 

johnny44

davidbrooks said:

@johnny44.  The pulley can be pulled from your old PS pump.  You will need to get the tool to pull it and press it on the new pump.  Just make sure it is all lined up when you get it all together.  IMO you don't have to buy a MerCruiser pump.  You can actually use an aftermarket car PS pump.  The most critical thing though is to remove the origonal flow control valve and spring and use it in your new pump.    This is the one that i bought for mine.  Amazon.com: DYRDINSHOW Power Steering Pump for Mercruiser Volvo Penta OMC Replaces#18-7508, 3863130, 3888323, 16792A39 : Automotive

@davidbrooks - so I missed probably the most important part of your post: "The most critical thing though is to remove the original flow control valve and spring and use it in your new pump."

The new pump is installed along with a new pulley and the new high pressure hose. I had the yard do the work. What was not done (I am guessing) is the swap out of the original control valve. The pump runs, the fluid level is normal - but I am still chasing a "noise" from the engine whenever I turn the wheel. Any info you can provide as to options for the control valve?

johnny44

This is the power steering pump that was used to replace:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLC67Y1R?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

davidbrooks

If you dont have the original control valve then you will likely need to order an OEM one and just swap it out.  The good news is that you dont have to pull the pump to do it.  The bad news is you are gonna have to dump out your fluid...and not mess up your bilge at the same time.  It simply looks like a small piston and spring.  Goes in behind the nut that the high pressure hose screws into.

johnny44

Thanks @davidbrooks
Any idea what kind of control valve/spring comes with the ones sold on Amazon as "Mercury replacements" ?  Are they not set up for the right pressure?
I can't seem to find part numbers for the OEM valve. Hopefully I can find it and not have to buy the whole pump. Or maybe I can swap from the one on the port engine.

PickleRick

If you can figure out the fitting threads size and needed angles you can get reusable aeroquip power steering fittings from Jeg's or summit racing along with a small section of hose. 


Not what I would use if you can get OEM but as back orders pile up these items allow you to cut the hose to your needed length out on the water if you ever blow another hose or a fitting begins to leak.   If nothing else keep your boat on the water and usable until the OEM shows up and now you have a spare.  


eBay/Amazon also sells some of these fittings but im not sure of the quality.    The aeroquip hose I set up to run a VW power steering pump on a Toyota steering box has so far been flawless pushing 33x11.5 inch tires daily.  

davidbrooks

No i really don't know how much different they are.  It was just a warning/advice i got from another site that was talking about using a non OEM PS pump.  Basically the pump bodies were the same.  Pressure was the only difference.  I would likely recommend pulling the one from your other engine.  Swap out the one in question and see if the noise goes away.  If it doesn't change the noise then you know your issue is elsewhere.  One thing to consider would be your water pump.  If it is starting to wear out it will get noisy.  That is a pretty straightforward replacement.