Loose steering on 26X

[Wind Chime]

Loose steering on ,

(I found a few other posts about this topic, but can not find the solution to correct it)

I have about 20 degrees of play in my steering wheel, before the rudders/motor react.
Is this problem:

a.) stretched steering cable?
If it is a stretched cable, can and how do I tighten it.

b.) worn steering box?
If it is a worn steering box, can this be tightened or does it need to be replaced, and do I need to replace the box an cable as one unit.

Many Thanks!
Darry

[Retcoastie]

I picked up some looseness once and it increased to complete failure when the bolt that holds the fixed rod to the hull fell out. I'm talking about the bracket just above where the cable comes thru the hull. After replacing and tightening that bolt, further checking found the bolt that connects the steering rod to the front of the engine also loose and wobbling.
Those two bolts tightened up my steering a lot, but not completely. Lets us know what solves your problems.

Ken

[tangentair]

This thread on wheel slop has some pretty good suggestions.

[Wind Chime]

Thanks for the advice guys ... here are the results of my efforts tonight.

(sorry no photos)

1. I tightened the large nut on the stern where the cable comes out of the after cabin (starboard) and attaches to the control arm/bar = no change, and this looks like the only adjustment point at this end of the cable.
2. I tightened the nut that is attached to the end of the wheel inside the pedestal. This nut has a large spring on it. It made the wheel harder to turn, but no change in the amount of play in the wheel.

Question:
Inside the pedestal, the steering cable goes into a long grey rectangle box. The box is about one inch by one inch, and about one foot long. This box is sealed. Can there be an adjustment inside this box to tighten the cable. This seems to be where the play is.


Thanks for you advice!
Darry

[c130king]

Darry,

That box is the "Rack" of the "Rack & Pinion". Look at the pics in this post:

Steering Broke.

I had to replace the system. It was about $150 for a 8' Teleflex system. But it wasn't too difficult...if I could do it anyone could do it.

But I didn't have that kind of slop. My steering locked up and I stripped the gears in my Rack and in the Pinion.

But once I replaced my steering was very nice...smooth...no slop.

Good Luck,
Jim

[bastonjock]

The long rectangular grey box can be easily removed,take it off and have a look at the teeth on both cogs,this is where my steering failed,there is a large nut inside the wheel when you remove the cap,check that also,when you have the grey boc removed turn the wheel and look to see if the teeth move as you move the wheel.Try folowing the steering from the wheel and look for unresponsive areas,if the teeth inside the cylindrical shaft have play in them then i suggest tightening up nuts in that area.

hope this helps

[Wind Chime]

Thanks guys,

Your advice has really helped on this one!
And thanks for the links to the other posts on this topic, they were perfect.

I screwed around with it again, and then said to hull with it, life's too short to be fussin' with crap I probably can't fix anyway.

So I talked with Stevenson Marine and they can get me a complete Uflex Racktech for $185 CAD and deliver it in 3 days. I am going to go with the 10" cable unless anyone says otherwise.

Also going to upgrade to an 18" wheel at the same time. Hey ... anyone have an extra ST4000 Autopilot for sale, I might as well throw that on at the same time

Darry

[efalstrem]

Darry:

I had a tech check out my steering today and he tells me that the current setup is far too stiff. He has lubricated the cable but tells me that it will need to be replaced if I ever hope to complete the installation of the S1 Autopilot. Have you fitted your Uflux Racktech kit yet? Was the 10' cable long enough?

[mustang49]

My steering cable went last year. it started off loose and gradually had more play in it, and finally broke. if they start to go I think its probably easier to replace than mess around. not that hard to replace.

[bastonjock]

my steering cable broke last year,i was not in a safe area when it happened,i called out the life boat and on the way in undertow,the towrope slipped and destroyed my mast and rigging,my steering had a litle play in it not much.I have now fitted a new steering cable/box,it feels a lot better,i am also going to make provision for an emergency tiller.

[Kelly Hanson East]

I finally finished my Tillerpilot mod for my which I am mentioning here as it gives a completely redundant steering mechanism independent of the steering gear. It does look like you could implement this on an but I havent done this.

Search tillerpilot mod for x under this user name to find

[Wind Chime]

OK ... that was way too easy.

Thanks to all the advice on this site, I just took the wheel off our in a record 6 minutes.
Popped off the cap, undid the nut to the end of the threads, turned to face the stern with the wheel on my thighs, gave the nut a couple of raps with a rubber hammer and it was off!

Hope the new 10" Uflex (rack and pinion) system goes in just as easy tomorrow.

Any last minute advice

Darry

[extreem]

One thing to watch for during the install is that the rack assenbly is on the correct side. I did the same thing you are doing last year. I didn't realise that the steering was backwards until I was in the water. The rack can be mounted on the port or starboard side and will steer the boat in the opposite direction of the wheel if not correct.

[c130king]

I had a small issue of the rack being slightly larger on my new system which interfered with the depth guage. Tried swapping the depth guage with the fuel guage but that wasn't working either. But I was able to work around this problem by pulling the depth guage out of its "hole" about 1"...used a piece of PVC to "extend" the hole outwards.

Good Luck,
Jim

[Kelly Hanson East]

that the steering was backwards until I was in the water.

I think PaulS tested this mod previously...