Steering not working. HELP!

[Russboat]

I have a 1984 21’ boat with a 5.0 OMC with a 400 stern drive. The lower unit only moves about 6” in either direction. The steering wheel makes 3 full turns lock to lock. I see the steering cable behind the motor moving but the lower unit does not move. I just purchased the boat and the previous owner told me that he was on the lake and it just quit steering. Not sure how true it is. Can you please shed some light on it for me? Is it something that can be repaired or do I need to just take it to the shop. I am mechanically inclined.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I really wish you would have came here before you bought a boat with an obsolete drive

The stringer 400 was only behind the 2.5 liter and 3.0 liter 4 cylinders

The 5.0 would have a stringer 800.

Most likely your true-course steeting is jacked up. It may be something simple, or it may cost you 3 to 4 times what you paid for the boat

You need to go to outboardbooks.com and buy a factory manual

Also check out the resources at sterndrive.info

Good luck

 

[kenny nunez]

Can you shake the drive left and right when it is in the down position ? Does this have power steering?

 

[kenny nunez]

After consulting with my crystal ball I have a good idea what is wrong.
Since you said that the drive is a 400 on a 5.0 engine the P O installed the drive with out squaring the drive in relation to the steering output gear.
Get 4 bolts, 3/8”16X 3”, raise the drive and remove the 3 bolts that mount the quadrant gear and remove it then let the drive down. Remove the side caps and the rubber bumpers. Remove each mounting bolt one at a time and replace them with the 3” bolts. Slide the drive back and turn the small gear to set the drive straight ahead. Turn the steering wheel to the center of travel, push the drive back on and reverse the bolting.
While this may help with the steering your main problem is you have the wrong drive, 400s are for 4 cylinder engines. If you have a 13” diameter propeller then you definitely have the wrong drive.