Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

[rick001]

I posted a thread a couple weeks ago about replacing my 800 stringer with a older unit. I took it to the lake yesterday and it worked well with the large exception that the steering was backwards. The boat the outdrive came off of was a tru-coarse steering and mine is power steering. I took the outdrive off and checked, when I turn my steering wheel clockwise, the steering gear on the intermediate turns counterclockwise. Can I simply replace the worm gear with the correct one?
The gear ratio on the drive must be different because I did try accelerating and got a lower top end than it had before. That's ok right? It was pretty freaky trying to steer backwards, I only drove it about 10 mins. but going back to the dock was challenging.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

Can I simply replace the worm gear with the correct one?

you can - not quite sure why OMC made LH and RH sets, but just swap them.

I suspect you now have the correct drive ratio, but have too high of a pitch propeller. Your 5.7 should have the highest ratio drive on it. So if the rpm went down, I would assume the old drive was the wrong gearing.

 

[rick001]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

Do I change just the worm gear, or do I also change that half moon looking gear?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

as I recall, both have to change as a set, but it has been a while.

 

[rick001]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

OK thanks

 

[vicjunkie]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

I had the same problem when I changed my upper with a used unit. what I did was got to the drum under the helm and took the cables off of it and swapped them. it was alot easier than changing the worm gear and no cost.

 

[vicjunkie]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

oh never mind, i thought you said you have the tru course steering, my apologies

 

[Maclin]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

Regarding "lower top end ", do you mean MPH or RPM? Did you swap your old prop onto the new drive? If so, what is the pitch. If not do you know the pitch of the prop on the new drive?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

I can't believe he drove it with the steering backwards
I plopped a drive onto a boat for testing once like that. I didn't dare try to get on plane. I was a mess. unable to fight instinct.
Would be a good theft deterrent if left that way.... eventually one would adapt... like those experiments where they put the upside down spectacles on people.

 

[rick001]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

Yeah, I only drove it in a big circle, but it had a lower mph top end. Same prop. 17 pitch

 

[southkogs]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

...I only drove it in a big circle...

LOL - I did that when I changed my steering too, but it was unintentional.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

Lost steering on a tuna trip.20 mi out.
Changed to hyd that week.
Went back to the ocean(160mi) and put it in and the steering was backwards Didn't test it other than it moved it.
Changed it around and was seasick all day from the boat rocking with my head under the dash.
Try changing the steering around at the dash?

 

[rick001]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

I ended up taking it to a mechanic that had 30 years on OMC outdrives. He put the correct wormgear in , resealed the lower and replaced the impeller. Now its like a new boat. It was expensive, but worth it in the long run. He gave me a 3 year warranty on what he repaired.

 

[rick001]

Re: Steering backwards on my 800 stringer

Plus, the mechanic checked out the rest of the outdrive, and gave it a clean bill of health.