Sloppy Steering

[Knot Waiting]

I accidentally placed this thread under the wrong topic before so I'll try again under the correct heading. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

I have a 23' 1989 Celebrity Crown Line with a Mercruiser 5.7 w/ Alpha One sterndrive

The steering is really poor at slow speeds and when the boat is on a trailer the whole lower unit sways from side to side easily.

I had thought it might be the steering fork but that looks very difficult to replace and I was quoted $1500 by a local marina to have them do it..... no way.

I am in the process of replacing the gimball bearing and U-joint bellows (first time so my fingers are crossed it goes smoothly) So I assume this would be the ideal time to handle this issue before another season kicks off.

Any ideas, tips, whatever would be greatly appreciated. - Logan

 

[Don S]

Re: Sloppy Steering

I had thought it might be the steering fork but that looks very difficult to replace and I was quoted $1500 by a local marina to have them do it..... no way.

Price and ease of repair has nothing to do with what causes a problem, if the fork is bad, it's bad, like it or not.

Basically every single engine boat with a single prop outdrive has low speed steering problems. Even if every thing is slop free.

You will never get Alpha steering to be solid like a car, just ain't gonna happen my friend.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Sloppy Steering

Have you actually Identified Exactly Where the Slop is coming from,..??...

Have a helper hold the Outdrive, while another helper shakes the steering wheel, while You have your Head down in the bowels of the boat observing the mechanism at the Inside of the Transom,......

If in fact the Problem is the Tiller Arm,.......
There's a "Kit" to repair it from the Outside,.......
But,....
I've always just Popped to motor Out,+ Done it Right.........

While you're headed to the Area of the Repair, when you do your Bellows Job,.....
You'll be considerably Short of getting To the Problem Parts...........

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Sloppy Steering

Yep, what they said! :^

Here's a link with some more info:
http://mercstuff.com/gimbalringwear.htm

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sloppy Steering

I have to ask-
Did you tighten the two bolts at the top of the transom shield?
You have the square swivel shaft, it would really need to degrade to cause replacement.....
You are going to have to wiggle & look....
Oh, & what they said.....

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Sloppy Steering

Sheesh, Am I glad my primary ride has an OMC Stringer. These black anchors will drive you batty.:%

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sloppy Steering

Ahhhh......
Another white supremist.....8)

 

[Don S]

Re: Sloppy Steering

Even OMC quite building those old stingers back in the mid 80's. They knew they weren't worth trying to improve. So the went to the Cobra version...... Amazing, VERY similar to Mercruiser.in how everything worked. Just more complicated.

Let me guess, since you like that old stringer so much, this must be the car you tow it to the lake with. :devil: