1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

[whitejamie99]

I have a 1977 115 Johnson on a Glastron CVX16 with rotary steering. With the cable disconnected at the motor, the motor moves freely from stop to stop. With the cable connected, it turns full to port and the cable fully retracts. When I turn to starboard, I only get a partial turning radius. At full hard to starboard with the steering wheel, I then disconnect the cable from the motor and can move the motor to its stop. There is about 3" distance from the farthest that the cable will go to the stop position with the cable disconnected. The cable has a transom clamp mount connection. It looks like the tilt tube was not used on this boat. If I relocate the transom mount it looks like I can get some more turning radius to starboard but would lose the same to port. there is about 3" distance from the transom mount to the splashwell. Is there any way to make this work or do I just need to buy a tilt tube setup?

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

on my 1970 115 evinrude I had a similar problem. Turns out I had a kink. When I unhooked it from the motor and turned the steering wheel hard it pushed past the kink. After adapting my steering a bit due to other reasons, the kink got worked out and it steers great now.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

you may have the wrong adapter link, from cable to motor. disconnect cable at motor. turn the steering wheel for stop to stop, count the revolutions. now set the steering wheel to the center, and the motor to center. if the connect is not lined up, you have the wrong link arm.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

whitejam, a question back at ya'--
Does your steering arm have one or two bolt holes for the steering connection? If it has two, the steering goes in the one most aft, toward the motor.

 

[whitejamie99]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

Thanks for the replies. I will try all the suggestions. There is a rather large "camel hump" about halfway down the length of the cable. The cable may be the original, i.e. 32 years old so that is probably my first suspect. There are 2 holes on the steering bracket and I am not connected to the aft hole. The bolt from the clevis connection wont fit it the aft hole but will fit in the front - Strange? With it in the aft I get some more radius on the starboard but doesnt seem like all of it.

A special thanks to everyone who contributed to the "steering" questions. This forum is great and I have learned quite a bit about boat steering starting from scratch by reading everyones posts. There is such a wealth of knowledge in this forum - thanks for educating me!

 

[F_R]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

Thanks for the replies. I will try all the suggestions. There is a rather large "camel hump" about halfway down the length of the cable. The cable may be the original, i.e. 32 years old so that is probably my first suspect. There are 2 holes on the steering bracket and I am not connected to the aft hole. The bolt from the clevis connection wont fit it the aft hole but will fit in the front - Strange? With it in the aft I get some more radius on the starboard but doesnt seem like all of it.

A special thanks to everyone who contributed to the "steering" questions. This forum is great and I have learned quite a bit about boat steering starting from scratch by reading everyones posts. There is such a wealth of knowledge in this forum - thanks for educating me!

hm.m.m.m., wonder why it won't fit? That's where it belongs to get anywhere near full steering. From there, it is a matter of locating the support tube to equalize it. The outer hole is for a dual engine tie bar.

 

[whitejamie99]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

The outer hole has a threaded insert in the hole. The aft does not. I will find a proper bolt and locking nut for the aft hole. Thanks for the reply.

 

[whitejamie99]

Re: 1977 115 Johnson Steering Question

To close this thread - my steering is now fixed. I did move the connection to the aft hole and gained about half of the missing turn radius. I then moved the transom clamp right next to the splashwell and now have full turning stop to stop. I will use this for one more season and then spring for a whole new steering system. Thanks to all who helped.