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1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 1:14 pm
by cobalt454
Hello all! Anyone have any experience removing and replacing a steering actuator on a 1990 Condurre 223 with 7.4? It's leaking at the seal. Do I have to remove starboard exhaust riser to remove it? Also, is there a company that will rebuild it? They are hard to find! Any help is appreciated!
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2026 5:06 pm
by RWM250
Once you're able to get it removed. Send it to "5-Star Marine" in Port Richey, FL. I removed mine from my '04 250 and sent it to them two years ago. They rebuilt it for $500.
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:33 pm
by cobalt454
Thanks! I tried to remove it but the steering cable pin won't come out! I thought once I removed the cotter pin it would slide out but it's being difficult. There's so little room back there that I can't get an angle to tap it out. I sprayed it with WD 40 hoping that helps. Any suggestions?
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:01 am
by RWM250
cobalt454 wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:33 pm
Thanks! I tried to remove it but the steering cable pin won't come out! I thought once I removed the cotter pin it would slide out but it's being difficult. There's so little room back there that I can't get an angle to tap it out. I sprayed it with WD 40 hoping that helps. Any suggestions?
Did the cotter pin break? It is tough to see. The original pins, I believe, are aluminum and can break easier than steel pins. There are also two pins to remove. I had to use my phone to take a couple pictures to see what I was dealing with. There should be two pins and two bolts and the the hydraulics lines. I eventually removed the entire thing before the steering cable would pull out.
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:16 am
by RWM250
RWM250 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:01 am
cobalt454 wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:33 pm
Thanks! I tried to remove it but the steering cable pin won't come out! I thought once I removed the cotter pin it would slide out but it's being difficult. There's so little room back there that I can't get an angle to tap it out. I sprayed it with WD 40 hoping that helps. Any suggestions?
Did the cotter pin break? It is tough to see. The original pins, I believe, are aluminum and can break easier than steel pins. There are also two pins to remove. I had to use my phone to take a couple pictures to see what I was dealing with. There should be two pins and two bolts and the the hydraulics lines. I eventually removed the entire thing before the steering cable would pull out.
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:17 am
by RWM250
RWM250 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:16 am
RWM250 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 9:01 am
cobalt454 wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 3:33 pm
Thanks! I tried to remove it but the steering cable pin won't come out! I thought once I removed the cotter pin it would slide out but it's being difficult. There's so little room back there that I can't get an angle to tap it out. I sprayed it with WD 40 hoping that helps. Any suggestions?
Did the cotter pin break? It is tough to see. The original pins, I believe, are aluminum and can break easier than steel pins. There are also two pins to remove. I had to use my phone to take a couple pictures to see what I was dealing with. There should be two pins and two bolts and the the hydraulics lines. I eventually removed the entire thing before the steering cable would pull out.
Is the circled pin in the picture the one you're having trouble removing?
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 12:12 pm
by jhnmdahl
First thing I'd try is a bit of solvent to loosen up anything locking it in there, like PB blaster, WD-40, or the like (leave it for several hours) and a drift punch or pin punch. If that doesn't work there are pin press tools that look like C clamps that may be able to get it out, but they're fairly pricey for what is basically a C clamp with "special" ends and I'd be tempted to rig something up myself with a C-clamp I already have first.
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2026 1:21 pm
by RWM250
One more thing, if you have a lot of pressure on the steering cable, it may be very tough to remove. Turn the steering wheel a bit to see if it loosens it up a bit.
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 7:41 pm
by cobalt454
The cotter pin came out whole. I've doused it in WD-40 so hope that frees it up. I did try moving the steering cable to see if that would free it up but no luck. My cotter pin is on bottom of pin so hard to access and see. I will try to get a c clamp in there and press it out. Thanks for all the comments!
Re: 1990 223 Leaking steering actuator
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 5:41 pm
by RWM250
cobalt454 wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2026 7:41 pm
The cotter pin came out whole. I've doused it in WD-40 so hope that frees it up. I did try moving the steering cable to see if that would free it up but no luck. My cotter pin is on bottom of pin so hard to access and see. I will try to get a c clamp in there and press it out. Thanks for all the comments!
Good luck and let us know when you achieve success.