Help with steering problem

[detchon]

I have a 1993 Rinker captiva 170 with a mercury 115 outboard and I am having problems with my steering. I just bought the boat and took it out on the water and at low speeds, the steering is fine but when you go to WOT, the boat pulls severely to the right, almost like when the aligment in a car is out. I was told that the steering cable was replaced this summer.
Any ideas?
Also, my RPM gauge only works intermitently. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[109jb]

Re: Help with steering problem

What you are experiencing is from the torque of the engine and is normal unless you have a "no-feedback" steering system. You can help out the situation though. There should be a fin called a trim tab on the bottom aft side of the anti-ventilation plate. The back end of the tab should be turned to the right. Position it to about 1:00 o'clock position to start. Then, if the boat still pulls one way or the other, move the fin a little in the direction the boat wants to pull. Just keep repeating until it is as good as it gets.

 

[zach103]

Re: Help with steering problem

that little triangle part thats right above the prop is what hes talking about.. and hes correct it shouldnt be the actuall sterring.. in what position is the tab in right now?

 

[detchon]

Re: Help with steering problem

The position is straight back. If the boat pulls right, do I want to turn the tab clockwise or counterclockwise?

 

[cr2k]

Re: Help with steering problem

You move the back of the tab in the direction the boat pulls to. It will have the opposite effect on the drive/motor.

If the boat pulls to starboard move the tab counterclockwise (looking from the top).

 

[Jetstreak]

Re: Help with steering problem

On that tach problem, you might want to check the back of the gauge itself. There likely will be a selector switch for 4, 6 or 8. This is supposed to match up to the number of cylinders for your motor. Sometimes the gauge will bounce out the setting and find itself between two. Also check the connections on the gauge to make sure they are tight with no corrosion.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Help with steering problem

On that tach problem, you might want to check the back of the gauge itself. There likely will be a selector switch for 4, 6 or 8. This is supposed to match up to the number of cylinders for your motor. Sometimes the gauge will bounce out the setting and find itself between two. Also check the connections on the gauge to make sure they are tight with no corrosion.

On a merc outboard tach, the setting is the number of poles in the alternator part of the stator, divided by 2. Likely 6 on this engine.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Help with steering problem

On that tach problem, you might want to check the back of the gauge itself. There likely will be a selector switch for 4, 6 or 8. This is supposed to match up to the number of cylinders for your motor. Sometimes the gauge will bounce out the setting and find itself between two. Also check the connections on the gauge to make sure they are tight with no corrosion.

And if you can't find the problem with the tach by checking any of those things the next move is to your engine's electrical system. Bad rectifiers are a leading cause of tach issues (or put another way, the tach acting up is a good indication of a bad rectifier). Keep a close eye on your battery's state of charge, if it's dropping then you've got a problem.