Cable to Hydraulic Steering

[Topsportsman]

Have any of you ever gone from the Teleflex Cable Steering to their Hydraulic Steering? If you did, why did you make the change?

I have a 2005 Starcraft 246 Elite with a Merc. Bigfoot 60 and I feel it steers hard. It will not pull to either left or right , but it might be a little harder to turn to the left than to the right. Either way is takes effort to turn the wheel. I made the move from a cruiser to a pontoon and I guess I'm just spoiled by the power steering on the cruiser.

The Cable steering seems to be working correctly, I feel it's just too hard to turn the wheel. Maybe I'll get used to the steering , maybe not. I was just wondering if replacing a perfectly good cable steering with either No Feed Back Cable or a Hydraulic steering system would make life easier.

ALSO!

My steering wheel is off center. Is it just a matter of removing the wheel and repositioning it??

Any help would be appreciated,

 

[F_R]

Re: Cable to Hydraulic Steering

I changed mine. Reason? I worked at the factory.

There are power hydraulic systems available, but regular hydraulic steering is not power steering. Yes, you can select the components to make it a bit easier by sacrificing more turns of the helm for easier to turn. In addition, you do not have the friction of the cable. Just trying to say that how much easier hydraulic will be depends on what you have now.

A note on the steering wheel position: Hydraulic steering wheels don't stay centered. If that bothers you, get a symetrical steering wheel.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Cable to Hydraulic Steering

if your wheel is not centered you helm is installed wrong or you have the wrong link arm from the cable to the motor. the are made to be self centering. 1 1/2 turns to right, 1 1/2 turns to left. 3 turns stop to stop. which could be binding your steering. remove the link at the motor and see if it turns easy the helm and motor.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Cable to Hydraulic Steering

How hard could it be to turn a 60 hp. You can upgrade to hydraulic, however, for upwards of $7-900, and there will still be some effort to turn the wheel. If you're currently not pull/pushing, no-feedback won't do anything for ya. And there' still effort required to turn that.

Check to make sure the cable isn't too long (usually indicated by several "waves" in the run, or that bends are too sharp. Both will increase core friction and increase turn effort ...