toe in on rudders???

[Wayne nicol]

should there be any toe in on the rudders, i seem to have quite a bit, how much?? as best as i can measure 4- 5 degrees.

i am trying to center things , so that i can balance my steering, as i am installing a BWY quick release.i too have found that there is significantly more "steerage" on one side than the other- about 15 degrees!!!!!
but i have also found with the BWY part i have to shorten up the quick release arm, by about 1.5" in order to get the adjustment, and to get it properly centered!!

[kmclemore]

I don't believe there should be any tow-in or out. Adjust them neutral and check for play in the linkage.

[Wayne nicol]

checked for play- none!!
seems the only way to adjust is to re drill a hole for the linkage- doesnt seem to be any adjustable linkage!
just gotta figure out which one is outta whack- so that the motor steerage has even travel.

[K9Kampers]

FWIW - As has been discussed here before, it is not uncommon for motor steerage travel to not be equal.

[kmclemore]

Hmm... well, I suppose it depends on how your installer installed the motor, but my rudders have adjustable rod-ends that allow independent adjustment. That being said, if yours is 'fixed' and has no adjustment you may want to look carefully for any bent bits that may have changed the geometry.

[Wayne nicol]

well with the shortening of the rod, i now have an even 25 degrees of motor travel in each direction, and the motor now match's the rudders, just the one errant rudder to adjust.
i am going to call blue water, and see if the , steering bar will fit the .
otherwise i am going to have to modify mine.
i geuss as the company evolved they tried to reduce the over engineering, where they thought it wasnt needed.
mine is a straight s/s pipe with a hole drilled in each end for the linkage- no adjustment, everything is straight and true, no large amt of play either- pretty tight!!!- just outta whack

[K9Kampers]

On page 17 of the manual, it says:

You might also check to make sure your rudders are parallel with each other. If not, they tend to fight each other and create unnecessary drag. You can adjust them by judiciously bending the tiller cross bar. Frequently check the rudder cable for corrosion. It must move freely.

[Wayne nicol]

yea thanks, interesting fix they recommend, but im not really into " judiciously bending the tiller cross bar. "
but will make a mod so that i can adjust it properly- all it would have taken was drilling the hole in the right place the first time- anyway- thanks all- "gonna get er dun"\

thanks heaps all!!

[raycarlson]

On an M its impossible to get both , everything straight and aligning in equal directions and still have full use of total steering angle, in your case you gave up 50% of your available steering input apparently if you only have 25deg in each direction. the limiting factor for the M's is the little L shaped five dollar transfer bar that connects the port rudder arm to the engine, the attach bolts on the motor well side stop it from equally turning the motor thru a full 90 degrees of angle, you have to get rid of that bar and engineer a new connection to equalize steering.

[raycarlson]

P.S. I am just getting my new stainless steel rig set up for welding new heavier duty M parts. this winter I will be fab'ing up new rudder brackets that don't bent and getting rid of the L shaped motor connect bar and replacing it with a fully adjustable steering cable connection instead , it will mount where the factory steering cable attaches to the starboard rudder arm and then to the motor, to enable a full 90plus degrees of steerage, if all goes well I will post part dwg's so others who wish to correct this little engnr'ing defect can.

[Wayne nicol]

cant wait to see what you get done- i will really be keen on that.

however in equalising my setup, my turn to SB set up stayed the same, in fact gained a bit, and lost a bit on the turn to port.
now my motor match's the rudders and goes from full lock to full lock on the rudders, however with rudders up i would like a lot more- if i could get it.
i use full rudder and motor for docking and other slow speed manouvers, but could maybe do away with the rudders if the motor had more travel.

how do you plan to disconnect the motor from the rudders.
when do you think you will have it ready.

spoke to a welder the other day- now he cant be totally right, as i have seen many good welded joints, but he says that welding burns the chromium out of the steel, and the welds are prone to rust. but then i have also seen some welded s/s that was rusted at all the welds- must be inferior s/s??

[mastreb]

P.S. I am just getting my new stainless steel rig set up for welding new heavier duty M parts. this winter I will be fab'ing up new rudder brackets that don't bent and getting rid of the L shaped motor connect bar and replacing it with a fully adjustable steering cable connection instead , it will mount where the factory steering cable attaches to the starboard rudder arm and then to the motor, to enable a full 90plus degrees of steerage, if all goes well I will post part dwg's so others who wish to correct this little engnr'ing defect can.

Can we just buy a kit from you? That's more my level of talent.

[cptron]

P.S. I am just getting my new stainless steel rig set up for welding new heavier duty M parts. this winter I will be fab'ing up new rudder brackets that don't bent and getting rid of the L shaped motor connect bar and replacing it with a fully adjustable steering cable connection instead , it will mount where the factory steering cable attaches to the starboard rudder arm and then to the motor, to enable a full 90plus degrees of steerage, if all goes well I will post part dwg's so others who wish to correct this little engnr'ing defect can.

Can we just buy a kit from you? That's more my level of talent.

I agree with masreb.

[Wayne nicol]

x3

[RobertB]

On page 17 of the manual, it says:

You... You can adjust them by judiciously bending the tiller cross bar. Frequently check the rudder cable for corrosion. It must move freely.

Wonder if the people who wrote the manual realize the does not have a tiller?