Steering issue

[daddycajun117]

Ok here is one for you guys. The steering on my boat sucks. I have oiled, greased and lubed everything. When the I am at idle or out of the water, the motor turns easy. When the motor is running, it is really hard to turn right. It turns real easy to the left. Or the opposite. One way is real hard, and the other is easy. It does not pull one way or the other. The boat runs straight when cruising across the lake. I have a suspicion that the cable is bad, or too long. When I inspected the cable, it has a loop towards the back. It is not a kink though. it gradually makes a loop. Any help would be appreciated.


Steven

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering issue

outboard, inboard? how old is the steering system. you are probably correct the cable is too long. should not be a loop. although i have put many big loops in steering cables to reuse them.

 

[daddycajun117]

Re: Steering issue

Sorry yes it is an outboard. It is a 16 ft 94 VIP fish and ski, with an 1981 115 Johnson.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering issue

it is a push pull cable, the loop could be causing tension in the one direction.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Steering issue

I had the same problem with a 115 on a bass boat. I had to lower the engine one set of holes and I regained my steering. I found this out while I was testing a 4 blade prop and it was near impossible to turn while on plane.

Read my test http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=177235 from 2 1/2 years ago.

 

[grego]

Re: Steering issue

Man! buy new cables! It is called tork, the direction the prop turns makes it easy to turn in one direction, hard to turn the other. There is an water exhaust port just above the prop, on lower end,that you can ajust that will make it a little easier,but will still not be easy. tork works in one direction.

 

[kandil]

Re: Steering issue

do you have the clip installed on the cable at the steering end? that could do it other wiss you need new cable

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Steering issue

Take a look at the torque fin under the cavitation plate. You may need to adjust this to get the boat to run straight and steer easy at WOT

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Steering issue

Definatly look at the torque tab directly under the av plate and adjust iff needed. Adjust in the direction of the issue if it pulls right adjust it right and left visa versa.

Sounds like you have a bad steering cable though. Mine did the exact same thing. OUt of water fine, in water darn near impossible to turn to the left. Replace the cable and it drives like a cadilac!

 

[ArkBoater]

Re: Steering issue

I've had the same EXACT (I mean EXACT to the tee!!!) problem with my 1988 Cheetah (3.0l I/O Mercruiser) and have greased everything too. No loop in my cable though. I've also messed with the tab and it didn't help it at all. Do ya'll think I need a new cable??? Also, I'm the 2nd owner of this boat and have no idea what length cable I need. How do I tell? Does it say it on the cable somewhere? Also, ya'll give me some suggestions for a couple good brands for replacement. Thanks!

Jared

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Steering issue

That's a relatively common issue with outboards. Seems to happen more heavily with trim tucked all the way in and not so much with trim all the way out or as far out as it will go before ventilating/cavitating. Pumping grease into the kingpin will not help.

However when it starts to bother you enough to do something about it, remove the engine, and remove the kingpin. Clean it and re-lube, and either buy new plastic bushings or repair the old ones. Also clean corrosion from the yoke where the sleeves slide into. That will solve most of the problem but it is a nasty job.

Explanation: Corrosion squeezes the plastic bushings around the kingpin. When not running or lightly loaded, the engine turns with only slightly more resistance than when new. Under load, however, the kingpin binds and is a BI**H to turn.

With time it will get worse until you can no longer turn the engine at all.

 

[daddycajun117]

Re: Steering issue

So how do I measure for a new cable.

 

[grego]

Re: Steering issue

Look on e-bay, for your boat,model year and all spec's. If don't find it there,you get a good "lead" as to where to look for parts

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Steering issue

You can probably find the length and numbe printed on the cable near end near the motor.
Also if you have problems you can call the manufacturer of the steering cable with the coding numbers and they can tel you.

If not here is a link to how to measure for a new cable.

http://www.iboats.com/basics/measure_steering_cables.html

Good luck folks around here can help you through this