Doc...My Bullet had Latham and i just ran it and turned the wheel back and forth...Easy

I have Latham steering and will check mine tonight for any "slop". We've pulled the engine several times in the last few years and always worked the wheel back and forth adding fluid as needed. I'm curious how tight the drives are now after reading this but everything has operated fine for the last 2 years.

Since we are discussing this and I have some knowledgeable people here let me tell you my scenario.

The boat is a 2002 model and the steering has been 100% trouble free until this year. We completely re-rigged the entire boat last winter and it included relocating the filter housing and extending the length of two hoses from the helm to the transom by three feet to better hide them out of site.

The guys doing the rigging had a hard time getting the system bled out but finally got it they thought. I have run the boat three times now and each time the steering is getting a little worse.

What happens is the steering will be working fine and all of a sudden it is like the wheel catches on something and will not turn. You can power though it and all is fine again then without warning it does it happens again.

I called Latham and they felt the problem was with the filter because I had not changed it in seven years with 400 hours of operation and they recommend changing it every 100 hours of operation. I pulled the old out last night and it was really dirty and appeared to have collapsed a little in a few areas. Of course you have to open up the system and loose a lot of fluid and let a lot of air in when you do this and Latham said it was very important to bleed it properly afterwards.

I sure hope this solves the problem once and for all. It is a little unnerving to go to turn and the wheel feels like it is locked up.

Any comments are appreciated. This is important and I want to get it right.

Thank you

That almost sounds like you might have some dirt or gotten a burr or something in the char-lynn valve.

Well that was what I was thinking and I was expecting the worst but when I explained all of this to Latham they said a filter will cause this and that I should start there first and bleed the system.

Wish me luck!

Just a shot you dont have anything getting on the belt when you are driving

No pretty sure that is not happening.

This is just air. Mine did the exact same thing after not priming the power steering pump on an engine replacement. The sudden lockup/jerk could potentially get you or someone else hurt.

Just bleed it out. Also, while turning the wheel, make a strong effort to turn it very slow. Beautiful engine compartment by the way. Stunning!

Thanks & Thanks

Have a nice weekend

Outstanding looking engines!