Steering controls question

[i386]

I sorta buried this same question inside a post I made in another forum, but this is probably where it belongs...

I'm restoring a 15' fishing boat with a 33HP outboard. I'm trashing the old cable steering system.

What's the difference between rack & pinion and rotary systems other than the size and obvious mechanical difference? Any reason to choose one over the other?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering controls question

personally i prefer rotary, very smooth and quick response easy to install. be sure to get the correct connector for your engine, as the cable will be a transom mount not a thru the tilt tube mount, as i beleive your engine is not equiped with the for the tilt tube mount. this goes for either system.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Steering controls question

You said "trashing the old cable steering system which contains pulleys and springs and all".

I think you will find Morse Teleflex steering systems an excellent upgrade. Much more responsive and a lot cleaner installation.

On current engines they run the cables thru the transom clamp bracket pivot (mfgr puts a hollow tube as pivot for this purpose).

On older engines you have to use a deadman (has a ball joint in it so that the cable can move to any angle), usually bolted on the transom adjacent to the engine to support the end of the cable outer shell. The movable inner rod connects to the engine as did your cable.

The thing to insure, is that the cable deadman is mounted so that the cable does not bind as you move the engine through maximum tilt up thru down. The cable should come with directions (dimensions) for that purpose.

Otherwise get a helper and hold it where you think it ought to be while someone else tilts the engine thru it's range.

Remember, that you may have the engine at some position other than straight ahead when you tilt it so you need to check it all.......like you have the engine positioned all the way over (like for a hard turn) and you want to tilt it up for beaching or something.

I have had both. Can't say I like one over the other. However my current one is rack and pinion and is "no feedback" and I like that. You can take your hands off the wheel while at WOT and the engine torque doesn't spin the wheel for you.

HTH

Mark

 

[i386]

Re: Steering controls question

Good info guys. That's pretty much what I needed to know.

Thanks!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Steering controls question

If you haven't already, google t & r marine. I really like they're setup better than the teleflex or uflex transom clamp pivot dealy. If you can use the splashwell mount one it's not so bad but I don't see how it would work on your boat.
Not really a rack vs rotary answer. I can't comment on that other than to say you need more space for the rack.

 

[i386]

Re: Steering controls question

Good stuff. I'll be referring back to this when the time comes. Lots of research to do for all the stuff needed to make things work again.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering controls question

Paul i didn't know where to find those, but your right, my ezy guide stick steering came with the under the mount bracket that i use on my '55 15 hp rude. works excellent for the older engines.