Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

[Jimmy Jam]

Just took the boat out today on OUR maiden voyage. To make a long story short, the rack & pinion steering is backwards on this sucker.

How do I go about fixing this? Any help would be appreciated.

Darn near drove the boat onto dry land when we first started out!! Gotta get this fixed. Not only from a safety standpoint, but my sanity as the Mrs. was screaming at me the whole time we were out.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

The only thing I can think of to cause that is the rack installed upside down.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

Sounds like the rack section should be upside down, on top of the pinion point, (steering wheel). Mount it that way if you can.

example, turning the wheel right, should make the cable push outward, which when mounted on the center of the motor, will make the motor rotate to the right as your facing it, turning the boat to the right,,, and vice versa for the left.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

agree

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

Alright,

Seems like an easy enuff fix, but how do I go about it. Remember I'm a newb here!

Where do I start? A step by step would be great.

TIA.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

Sorry I don't know, never worked on one, just giving you the logical explanation, as I can figure it. Check it out thoroughly, if you cannot take it off and mount it back upside down, or take it apart, and reassemble to make it work that way, the rack, & pinion maybe made for a boat with left side steering.

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

Sorry I don't know, never worked on one, just giving you the logical explanation, as I can figure it. Check it out thoroughly, if you cannot take it off and mount it back upside down, or take it apart, and reassemble to make it work that way, the rack, & pinion maybe made for a boat with left side steering.

Hey Mike,

You replied to another thread of mine regarding anchors. Anyways, good news. This morning I had some time to kill so I figured I'd see if I couldn't tackle the job.

After spending a few minutes looking at how the TELEFLEX rack & pinion system works, I figured it out. Anyways, to make the story short, I got it fixed! Removed steering wheel, and helm... which needed to be rotated 180 degrees, placed the rack on top of the pinion, reinstalled everything....and VOILA!!! Job took me about 30 minutes start to finish.

Thank god it was an easy fix as I was in for a load of crap from the Mrs. about the whole boat purchase thing!

 

[MikDee]

Re: Help....'73 Larson Shark 1550 R&P steering backwards!!!

Great to hear! I'm happy for you, thanks for the reply, glad you were able to get it to work without too much hassle.