Backward Steering!!!!!

[boatflipper]

Well, after tinkering on my 1976 115 HP Johnson for the past 3 months, I finally got it running this past weekend.
I took it to the river on my Mark Twain that is currently undergoing restoration and tried it out. She ran out really well~much better than expected!!
Well, there is one slight problem...my steering is BACKWARDS
When I got home, I looked under the helm to see if I could turn something around to fix this problem, but it seems that there is only one way that it can hook up on that end. Is there something backwards on the motor's end?
Thanks for any and all help!!

 

[james95gt]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

is it a rack steering??? my boat was doing the same thing and fliped the rack and it worked perfect...

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

is it a rack steering??? my boat was doing the same thing and fliped the rack and it worked perfect...

Well, Im not familiar with the types of steering out there....under the console I have a rectangular 'box' which contains the gears which the cable connects to. That mounts on the underside of the steering wheel shaft. I was hoping I could flip this 'box' over but it seems that it only connects one way...

 

[drewpster]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Try feeding the cable out of the box and feeding it in to the other hole on the box. I know some of the earlier teleflex boxes could be fed either way. If you have it in the wrong hole it will work backwards.

If you can, get a picture of it so we can indentify the box.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

If the 'box' is on the top of the steering shaft, take it off and install it on the bottom of the shaft. Or visa versa. I did it once myself (installed backwards) and it makes for difficult steering. There is nothing wrong with your equipment, its installation error.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

If the 'box' is on the top of the steering shaft, take it off and install it on the bottom of the shaft. Or visa versa. I did it once myself (installed backwards) and it makes for difficult steering. There is nothing wrong with your equipment, its installation error.

This pertains to a rack type helm. A rotary helm is different. This is rotary....the appearance will vary a little.

This is a rack. It will have a flat gear conncted to the end of the cable that bolts to this.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

I thought he said it had a rectangular box, wouldn't that make it a rack system? It should only have one cable leading to it. If there are two cables then possible rotary. But again, he said one cable.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Rotary can have one cable. The other hole is for the cable to feed out of.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Gotcha, Thanks for my education

 

[drewpster]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

This may help. Its all Teleflex stuff. There are other brands and types, but this is real common for the last 30 years or so.

http://teleflex.ru/upload/files/catalog/msru/Steering%20Identification%20Guide.pdf

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

My boat has a port side helm. I recently had to replace the rack. I had to install the helm upside down and put the rack above the pinion for the steering to work correctly. Depending on what side your helm is you may have to do the same. As drewpster already pointed out, if it is a rotary you will have to feed the cable in the other way. Either way it's an easy fix.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Ok from the pic drewp posted i have a 'rack' system....
I still dont think I can flip the 'box' upside down, it seems like it can only be mounted underneath the steering wheel's shaft...
Am i making any sense?....pics will probably help...
thanks for all the responses thus far!

 

[drewpster]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

If the engine end of the cable goes through the engine's tilt tube, the rack at the helm MUST be on top of the steering gear at the steering wheel end.

Unbolt the rack from the steering gear.
Rotate the gear so that the exposed part of the gear is facing up.

Loosen the big nut that holds the rack on the end of the cable.
Rotate the rack so that its gear is facing down.

Bolt the rack back together with the steering gear.
Tighten the big nut on the cable. Done

Looking from the back of the boat. In this position turning the wheel to the left will cause the engine to turn clockwise. Turning the wheel to the right will cause the engine to turn counter clockwise.

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Is this a new helm and cable? On my boat I had to install the steering pinion upside down (180* from what the instructions say). There is not a way to rotate the pinion housing without drilling new holes and mounting the entire unit upside down.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Drill if you have too. The whole steering column needs to be pulled out and rotated 180 degrees, then bolt the gear box back on.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Is this a new helm and cable? On my boat I had to install the steering pinion upside down (180* from what the instructions say). There is not a way to rotate the pinion housing without drilling new holes and mounting the entire unit upside down.

The rack does go on bottom IF the helm is on the left side of the boat. As this picture appears.

The rack goes on top if the helm if it is on the right side of the boat.

Pay attention to the action of the cable at the engine end. Thats all that really matters.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Thank you guys so much for all the help. I think I have a grasp on what to do...I will try and give it a look see this weekend.
Again, thanks for the help!!

 

[Last Mohican]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Did you get this resolved? Post up how you resolved it if you don't mind. It may help others that find this thread.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to further investigate my problem.
I spent the weekend getting my 7.5 horse Merc goin.
I will def update as soon as I find something out!

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Backward Steering!!!!!

Well folks,
I finally got my steering problem resolved!!
Originally, the rectangular box was mounted on the underside of the steering shaft. I simply turned it, and the shaft upside down, and problem solved!
I attached a picture of the correct way to give you a beter idea of what I am attempting to explain...