80 hp Merc steering question

[poorboatguy]

I have a 72 Starcraft with an 80 hp Merc of the same vintage. My question has to do with steering stops. I bought the boat with no steering cable, it went bad and the former owner removed it and never replaced it. Original cable was transom mount, but without the parts to it I converted it to tilt tube connection. I replaced the steering system with a new teleflex nfb system. New helm, new cable and new link from cable to motor. When I turn it full right, the cable hits its stop and the motor is not against its stop, when turned all the way to the right the motor hits its stop and the cable has about a half inch on travel left. When I measure to stroke of the cable with it disconnected from the motor, It has a stroke of 8 1/2 inches. And then I measured the motor from lock to lock at the link and it is 9 inches. So it will never hit both stops. Is this a problem or is it normal. The only way to keep it from hitting both stops would be to shorten the steering link. Any input would be helpful. If anybody could check their steering system to see how it functions that would also be helpful.
Thanks

 

[dlplost]

Re: 80 hp Merc steering question

The tilt tube it's self can be adjusted left/right an inch or so. just back off the nut on one side and tighten the oposite.
In norman operation you should never really need full stop to stop travel in the steering.
I would just center it as best I could with the tilt tube.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 80 hp Merc steering question

That is not a problem. You will never use the last 1/2" of travel, except at slow speed, and even then it is of limited value.