Rack & Pinion ? (steering)

[SS MAYFLOAT]

My frozen cable has kept me from launching for the last week. The first one they ordered for me was short. The second was the right length, but the rack does not match the bolt pattern. There are 4 bolts that hold the rack to the steering pinion. The two that bridges across the pinion is okay, but the two that bridge across the rack is off by about an 3/16th of an inch. I clamped the rack into place to check the gear mesh and they seem to match up without any play between the steering wheel & cable. I measured the teeth on the rack and compared them to the original rack and they are exact.

My question is, would it be okay to file the holes to elongate them to allow the bolt pattern to fit? That would only be 3/32" on each hole. The rack cannot move left or right on the mesh of the gears, and the rack cannot move up or down on the pinion since it sets into a channel on the pinion. I'm sure this will be okay, but a bit of confirmation will help set my mind at ease. Thanks.....SS

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rack & Pinion ? (steering)

i don't see why not.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Rack & Pinion ? (steering)

sounds good to me too. ya've got 2 holes that are right....
sounds like typical boat repair to me too.... if it don't fit, make it fit...... seems that most of the time when ya get to that point, there ain't no choice in the matter....... specially if ya can't get the exact replacement part.....

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Rack & Pinion ? (steering)

No problem. What can make a nice job of it is to re-drill a small pilot hole where you want the final fastener(s) to sit and then enlarge it to accomodate your fastener slowly working back towards the original hole 3/32" away. Other tools that make nice work of this are either a dremel or air tool equivalent with a small rotary bit.
When you are done you might want to give it a quick shot of rust paint (black?) to limit corrosion from the newly exposed material.
Good luck, keep us posted as to how it turns out.
BP

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Rack & Pinion ? (steering)

I used a rat tail file, took only about 4 minuets to do. Its good and solid and moves more free than the last time it was in the water. Had to fight a few hornets though,,,,,Me 6 - Hornets 2 doh, I'm glad I'm not allergic

Thanks guys for the confirmation,,,,,,,its always best to ask sometimes even when you know your right