Steering makes my arms hurt

[jhndere]

Hello everybody. 1st post here.
I did lots of searching but could not find a clear answer pertaining to my boat/issue.
I just bought a 2008 Tahoe 215CC with a Mercury Optimax 150 DFI O/B.
This boat is essentially new. It was never used. I bought it from Bass Pro.
I picked it up Mid February. I finally got it out on the water about 10 days ago.
While out there, it was very difficult to steer. To the point my arms practically reached muscle failure. I had to use both hands to turn. I don't think it was easier one way or the other, it was just downright difficult no matter what.
This is my second boat (the first being a 2004 Tahoe Q4 with a 190 I/O) and it certainly was MUCH easier than this.
Anybody have some suggestions about what to do here?
Also, I am not super smart when it comes to all these connections so some description would be great. If i have to take it in some where to get it fixed that is ok also, but I would rather go there with some sort of idea before taking it in "blind".
Thanks again. Sorry so long.

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Sounds to me like a trip back to BassPro is in order. They should address the difficulty you are experiencing without a charge.

It may be your power steering belt is broken or something equally as silly.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, OH

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

My guess is that you have some sort of hydraulic steering assist...do you see anything like what is in this picture?

If so...you may just be needing some fluid.

 

[jhndere]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Erie guy,
Is there somewhere I can look for the power steering belt? I have looked at the motor itself and it is steered by cables run to some rods (sort of stacked on top of each other in an S shape). When I turn one way, the rods pull against each other, result in turning the motor. Is that rack and pinion steering? Thanks for any help. I am trying to avoid going back to Bass Pro (it is 2.5 hours away). But if I have to, I will. Thanks again for any help.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Well since it is an OB it wouldn't have power steering like you would in an I/O set-up. But it should have hydraulic steering which should turn nicely. Check the steering consol and see if it has a resistance knob. It?s basically a knob you can turn to lock down your steering wheel to help eliminate steering wandering. If it?s over tightened it will make steering very difficult. If not then definitely take it back to Bass Pro Shops and have them look at it. Let us know how you make out.

 

[jhndere]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Rocky Road, yes it looks exactly like that. I will check the fluid tomorrow.

Greg, any idea where that knob might be? It is not visible from the steering wheel. Would it be inside the center console?

Thanks again guys.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

check your owner's manual for the resistance knob. Also on how to fill the fluids.

Call the shop at bass pro before you go back; could be something simple they can explain.

 

[jhndere]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

I went out and looked at the boat. I can't find anywhere the hydraulic fluid gets put in.
That leads me to think this... I looked inside the helm and can see the steering wheel control box. As looking at it, there are two cables coming out of the left side that are obviously the steering cables.
As looking at it, on the right side are two black hard plastic tubes coming out. One is open ended, the other is capped off with a blue cap. Is this where that hydraulic fluid pump should be? Is there a reason it would be missing? Or does that have nothing to do with it.
Thanks again for the advice.
Also, lo and behold, I go to look through the owners manuals and there is no boat motor manual. THere is a manual for the boat itself, trailer, stereo, tilt steering wheel installation, and throttle control installation, but no boat motor manual.
I am emailing them about this.

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

check your owner's manual for the resistance knob. Also on how to fill the fluids.

Call the shop at bass pro before you go back; could be something simple they can explain.

I agree here, call your salesman and tell him your problems and have him ask one of the techs on the shop floor what could be the problem? It could be something they see often with other Tahoe boats and he might be able to save you some grief.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

I went out and looked at the boat. I can't find anywhere the hydraulic fluid gets put in.
That leads me to think this... I looked inside the helm and can see the steering wheel control box. As looking at it, there are two cables coming out of the left side that are obviously the steering cables.
As looking at it, on the right side are two black hard plastic tubes coming out. One is open ended, the other is capped off with a blue cap. Is this where that hydraulic fluid pump should be? Is there a reason it would be missing? Or does that have nothing to do with it.
Thanks again for the advice.
Also, lo and behold, I go to look through the owners manuals and there is no boat motor manual. THere is a manual for the boat itself, trailer, stereo, tilt steering wheel installation, and throttle control installation, but no boat motor manual.
I am emailing them about this.

Go here--I think that this is your product info sheet:

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/document/productpdf/document1002_5_1068.pdf

It shows that there should be a small filling port knob on the steering mount, right behind the steering wheel:

Happy boating!

 

[cr2k]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Would low fluid make it hard to steer or just not steer?

Sounds like it is dual cable steering. The black tubes are where the cable go when you turn one way. One cap is missing. Just a dust cap.

A few things that can make it stiff are, cables adjusted too hard against each other. Dual cables are adjusted so slightly against each other to eliminate any free play but if they get out of adjustment they can really work against each other. Bad cable/s Friction screw. binding helm.
Thru tubes. Engine pivot.

Anything literally from Stem to Stern.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

John,

The adjustment knob would be clearly visible and either on top or underneath the steering wheel bezel. Maybe you don't have one.

Maybe we need to establish what kind of steering you have - cable or hydraulic. If your steering was hydraulic then the turning mechanism at your engine would look like the image Rocky put out above.
But it sounds like from your earlier description that you may have a cable steering set-up. Cable steering comes in a couple of forms - single and double and rotary and rack and pinion. A pic of your turning mechanism on your engine would shed some light on what you are dealing with and would help us help you better.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

For what it's worth I test drove a CC a couple of summers ago (can't remember the make now) with that same motor. The stock setup was not hydaulic and I found it very difficult to steer.

Salesman said adding hydraulic to the boat was an option worth $1500 -- far more expensive than just adding it myself after the sale.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

I'd put a large amount of money around the fact as to why you can't find the fluid fill cap.

I'd guess that this is not a hydraulic steering setup. It's usually an upgrade. The steering against the rotational force from the prop is what's yanking your arms off.

I have a 115HP, same issue with manual steering. You probably notice it much worse when getting up on plane and eases a bit after you're on plane.

150 is a lot to counteract unless you're Popeye. I'd talk to the guy at Bass Pro that sold it but I'm almost certain you don't have any hydraulic or hydraulic assist steering.

 

[cribber]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Take it back to the dealer to fix or address your problem. If you bought it "as new" in February they owe you warranty support at the least.

 

[shwoop_soobie]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

^^
even still... my dad had a 17ft bayliner with 120hp and i could drive it when i was like 8 or 9 no problem... it definitely was hard to steer but nothing crazy...

 

[jhndere]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Here are some pics. I am going to assume this is dual cable. If it is dual cable, does it make sense it is this difficult to steer? If so, it sure would have been nice to know before I bought the boat. Is adding hydraulic assist an option? Do you think it is a do it yourself option? Also, inside the helm, the gray box the cables hook into certainly has Teleflex stamped onto it. In my bundle of owners manuals I have 2 Teleflex manuals (one is for the SH91610/SH91630 backmount performance tilt standard/no feed back helms and the other is for the SH91800/10 and SH91900/10Teleflex Pro Series Tilt Mechanisms). However, there is certainly no way to tilt my steering wheel.
Here are the pics.

 

[scorpionfs]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

looks like dual to me id lubricate both of them rods well and try to work it out all that freezing weather we had may have it frozed up a bit,what ended up being my trouble with mine just a couple weeks ago ,which mine is just one cable id give it a try anyway.never been used been sitting up couple years something is bound to be tight lol,ya neva know

 

[reelnative]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

is it hard to turn when your sitting on land or not moving in the water, were you trimming up your boat while under way, that system should be very easy to operate unless there is a hard kink in one of the lines, sometimes after sitting for a yr or 2 they will get hard to steer from the greese hardning, I did have a safe T helm like the one you have but a single go bad and it was very hard to steer it, I think you need to call bass pro and have them send someone out to you seeing that you put out good money for the boat and its there problem

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Steering makes my arms hurt

Here are some pics. I am going to assume this is dual cable. If it is dual cable, does it make sense it is this difficult to steer? If so, it sure would have been nice to know before I bought the boat. Is adding hydraulic assist an option? Do you think it is a do it yourself option? Also, inside the helm, the gray box the cables hook into certainly has Teleflex stamped onto it. In my bundle of owners manuals I have 2 Teleflex manuals (one is for the SH91610/SH91630 backmount performance tilt standard/no feed back helms and the other is for the SH91800/10 and SH91900/10Teleflex Pro Series Tilt Mechanisms). However, there is certainly no way to tilt my steering wheel.
Here are the pics.

If this were mine, I would unhook the engine from the unit...try turning the engine to see how free it is...then try the steering to see how free it is. If one, or the other, doesn't move freely then I would investigate further. If they both turn OK when seperated, then it is just a case of 'it is what it is' and you will have to think of upgrading.

Maybe someone will chime in with ways to grease the cables....

Good luck!