need help on adjusting steering

[screenbuzz]

i have alot of feedback or play in the steering when i am at idle speed. when i throttle up the feedback seems to go away and the steering feels tight. is there an ajustment on the steering box or cable that would fix this problem. have alot of no wake zones where i boat and all this back and forth on the steering wheel gets tiresome. the boat is a 18' v center console 115 evinrude.

 

[whimsical]

Re: need help on adjusting steering

All single cable systems have some degree of play. A severely worn rack or cable will cause increased free play. The reason that you do not notice the freeplay at speed is because the trim tab or prop torque is loading the cable one way or the other and the play is less noticeable. At extremely high speeds in rough water this play can become erratic and dangerous but at under 50 mph it is not usually a problem. The way around it if you can't tolerate the freeplay is a dual cable system or even better a hydraulic system. The hydraulic will run almost $1000. Bob

 

[whimsical]

Re: need help on adjusting steering

I got carried away. There is no adjustment to take out the slop. Be sure that the cable nut is tight on the tilt tube, and also tight on the steering rack. If the cable is old or binding it might be worth the chance on replacing it, but that is $100 toward the new hydraulic unit.

 

[screenbuzz]

Re: need help on adjusting steering

thanks whimsical for the info. cable is not binding. not willing to spend a 1000 bucks on steering it's just not in the budget. tolerance is no problem at that price. this old bucket doesn't come close to 50mph, 32mph top speed. thanks again for your help.