Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

82mustang

Seaman
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
53
I know I am about to violate the rules real quick, but please bear with me.

I have a 90 Honda, circa the year 2000 (don't have access to the model and serial as boat is in storage)

Problem is the motor has horrible torque steer to the right when trimed down, and turns left when trimmed up. I know to turn the counter rotate skeg?? when it pulls one way, but never had a motor do it in both dircetions. I asked the local marina (not a honda dealer, the one the motor was purchased out is kinda useless), and was told "its caused but the gearcase, if they had bothered to steal the specs from merc like johnnyrude did, you wouldn't have that problem"

I would like to know if that makes any sense to anyone, cause I'm not buying that load of ..... Anyrate, anyone have any ideas on what would be causing that. I don't see how its going to be the boat hull, as it was previously powered but a Johnson, and was a dream to drive compared to the honda.
 

Outsider

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
1,022
Re: Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

Haven't had that problem with my Honda, but did on a Suzuki some years back. Torque effect will change as trim changes, though not usually both directions. Adjust it to get the feel you want when trimmed and just deal with the other ...
 

trendsetter240

Lieutenant
Joined
Jun 22, 2009
Messages
1,458
Re: Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

I think the problem is with the trim tab. Adjust the trim tab with the motor trimmed down. When you have got the motor running true trimmed down then test it out trimmed up. The trim tab has less effect when the motor is trimmed out.

Other causes could be a bent skeg, motor mounted too far away from dead center of the transom or weight distribution on board.
 

82mustang

Seaman
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
53
Re: Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

Skeg is mint condition, never touched bottom, motor is dead nuts center, and the weight distribution didn't change (other than the probally extra 100 lbs of the motor swap itself).

I know with the old motor, trim position didn't matter, and my other, small outboards, once adjusted, trim postion doesn't matter.
 

trendsetter240

Lieutenant
Joined
Jun 22, 2009
Messages
1,458
Re: Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

Skeg is mint condition, never touched bottom, motor is dead nuts center, and the weight distribution didn't change (other than the probally extra 100 lbs of the motor swap itself).

I know with the old motor, trim position didn't matter, and my other, small outboards, once adjusted, trim postion doesn't matter.

Hi 82mustang, I was talking about adjusting the trim tab that is just above your prop.

The trim tab is item #9 on the diagram at the link below.

http://www.boats.net/images/diagrams/Merc2/COMMON//15168.png
 
Last edited:

82mustang

Seaman
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
53
Re: Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

Ya, I still need to play with that, i was posting to your second half. Im just worried that once i have that adjusted for lest say trimmed down, that when i trim up, the problem is gonna a) still be there, or b) be worse than it already is.

I've never heard of a motor that does it different directions based upon trim. Normally I thought it would only be one direction, and when it did that, you adjusted the trim tab, and had no steer issues trim up or down.

Be a little while before I can test, water is to low to get the boat launched anywhere I know, hopefully lots of spring showers (as much as I hate saying that one)
 

joebob14

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
170
Re: Honda 90, torque steer in both directions??

May sound silly but make sure the motor was mounted level to the boat.
 
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