Practice Test Geeks(MST) Marine Service Technician Practice Test
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MST Steering & Control Systems Flashcards

6 cards from real MST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 MST Steering & Control Systems flashcards as text

  1. What is the primary cause of excessive steering wheel play in a rack-and-pinion hydraulic steering system?

    Answer: Worn or damaged steering cable or low hydraulic fluid level

    Excessive play in hydraulic steering is most commonly caused by low fluid level, air in the system, or a worn pump — mechanical play is rare in hydraulic systems.

  2. When bleeding a hydraulic steering system, what is the correct procedure?

    Answer: Turn the helm lock-to-lock multiple times while adding fluid at the reservoir until no air bubbles appear

    Cycling the helm lock-to-lock while topping off the reservoir forces air out of the system and allows fluid to fill all passages.

  3. What type of cable is used in most mechanical single-station outboard steering systems?

    Answer: Push-pull rotary steering cable

    Push-pull rotary cables transmit both push and pull forces through a flexible conduit, allowing steering force to be directed around bends to the outboard.

  4. What ABYC standard covers steering system installations on recreational boats?

    Answer: ABYC P-17

    ABYC P-17 (Mechanical and Non-Mechanical Steering Systems) establishes design and installation requirements for recreational boat steering.

  5. A twin-engine boat with hydraulic steering pulls strongly to one side at rest but steers normally under power. The most likely cause is:

    Answer: Unequal engine trim angle between the two engines

    Unequal trim angles cause an asymmetric thrust vector at rest that corrects under power as hydrodynamic forces equalize.

  6. What is the purpose of the tilt tube on an outboard engine steering system?

    Answer: To provide a pivot point for the steering cable attachment to the outboard's swivel bracket

    The tilt tube is a horizontal tube through the swivel bracket that the steering cable end cap threads into, providing the pivot for left-right steering movement.