steering: rack disengages from pinion full right

[charger_1]

it would seem that few have had this problem since i cant find a similar post. When i steer full starboard, the cable fully extends and the pinion rotates past the rack, leaving the helm to freewheel. The only way i can get it back meshing is to have someone rotate the wheel while i manually turn the motor toward port.

My question is this: is the rack missing a stop or have broken teeth, or is this something that is adjustable? When engaged, the motor seems to be centered to the rack travel limits. The rack is original to my 1980 larson runabout, with original 85 horse evinrude.

Just looking for ideas before tearing into it at the end of the season

Of course the best option is to replace it with a rotary, but the budget barely pays to take the boat out these days!

Thank you

 

[Bondo]

Re: steering: rack disengages from pinion full right

My question is this: is the rack missing a stop or have broken teeth, or is this something that is adjustable?

Ayuh,... The Helm, +/or the cable are Junk, that needs Replacing....

 

[charger_1]

Re: steering: rack disengages from pinion full right

Here's what I discovered upon tearing apart the rack and pinion. The far starboard stop (by the cable entrance) was worn from years of use... it allowed the slightly tapered end of the rack to go past the stop, allowing the pinion to fall off the end. What I did to "fix" the issue is place 3 E-clips on the shaft, which prevents the rack from going past it's original stop position. That solution fixed the problem like a charm!

Now here is something I noticed and was wondering what the options are. My 80 Evinrude 85HP motor has two threaded holes for the steering arm to attach. It WAS attached to the outermost hole, which when measured across it's arc at full motor port-starboard, was around 12 inches of travel. The inner most hole rides on a smaller arc, allowing for only 9 inches of travel (which is where I have it now). The maximum travel of the steering cable is just 8 inches! (I would assume this is why the stop on the rack was worn). I checked two other boats available to me and both of them also have just 8 inches of travel.

Are there steering systems out there that accommodate for 9 or 12 inches of travel? If not, what does a person do in this situation?