Eh I say GO FOR IT..... If you try it and decide it's too much for you THEN take it to someone..... Won't cost you a penny more to have it bled after you try it yourself and who knows you might knock it out easily. Maybe.....

I'm with Smoke. If worse comes to worse replace with a cable or Sea star, which you would probably end up doing anyway. Just don't get trapped into taking it somewhere to sit for 2-3 months before some tech who doesn't know anything about it bills you $100 an hour to tear it up.

I may have missed part of the story, but, how did it end up that way?. the previous owner lived with it like that?.

Hey, I really do appreciate the advice. I just don't have a mechanic I can trust.

I have an Evinrude Ocean Pro 225

^^^^ This! I've been burned by auto mechanics in the past, and I finally found a couple that I can trust to do a good job and not create additional problems or "find" other problems so they can line their pockets.

In my neck of the woods, there are very few boat mechanics, and the GOOD ones I heard about has a backlog of work. I don't mind throwing in the towel, I just want to avoid the frustration you mention.

I'll do some more research and ask a few more questions before I decide to make the plunge. If I do, I'll surely get a few extra hands to help with the bleeding.

Mushman, I just bought her last month...and didn't test drive her. She ran great on muffs and I wound up talking his price WAY down, so I jumped. All I know is he only owned it for a couple of years and had the engine rebuilt. Could be that when they reinstalled the engine, they reversed the hoses.

swap the lines then http://www.hypromarine.com/UserFiles...ne%20bleed.pdf

Geez, time flies when life happens!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who pitched in and gave advice or encouragement. A buddy and I swapped the lines and so far so good...she steers properly.

Nope, haven't put her back in the water yet. I'll let y'all know if all hell breaks loose.

Once in a while a blind hog will find an acorn.