steering effort would be high due the ram still being connected to the tierod but not assisting. the ram will still be full of fluid and every time you turn you will compress or pull the fluid that is in the system. Have you tried to disconnect if from the lines and try to turn the wheel? The only way you could do it and not run into problems would be to physically disconnect one end of the ram, and then you wouldnt need a cut off valve anyways.
