hard to steer while under way

KileyB wrote: It does need to be aligned. If I let go under power the wheel starts to turn left on its own.

A "preload" on the steering is actually desirable to many and is the reason for the tune-able rudder. It allows you to keep the boat in a straight line through the slalom course. Without the preload, boats have a tendency to wander back an forth port to starboard when in the neutral/straight running position.

TX Foilhead wrote: G:$ @&$m auto correct. Fixed it I hope.

Much better now!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Survived the weekend with the P90X steering system and got the new on in tonight, nice and smooth.

Teleflex says 4 turns lock to lock, I'm getting 3 3/4. Problem is almost 3 are to one side, the clamp block is in roughly the same place and the rudder moves almost equally to each side. I'm not sure what normal is since I've never had the proper setup. I'm heading out of town in the morning so no lake test time. Is this normal? Any ideas about how to get the clamp block set without putting it in the water?

worn out cable=lots of effort to steer...so even if you can get the helm "workable"...then again whats the worst that can happen?, no brakes, no steering, crowded lake?????

No, just lots of warning labels that say 'may cause steering failure'.   I realize that the lawyers and the sales guys are probably most responsible for those, but I would kind of like to know what's in there if anyone knows. I'm thinking if I crack it open and remove the damper it should loosen up. It was fairly smooth until I tightened the rack up, I thought about just leaving it a little loose, but the thought of a boat with no steering on a holiday weekend stopped me, I like excitement, but that might be too much.

Due to some miscommunication, a tropical storm or something my new cable won't be here in time for the weekend.   Fortunately I've been too busy to pull the old one so I started puting the helm back last night to make the boat useable for the weekend. None of the individual pieces seem terribly sticky, but when I tighten it all together it is very stiff, anybody got any ideas about what I could possibly grease to get few extra days out of it?

I think the biggest issue is in the helm, but every piece says don't open it up to repair.   Not planning on doing any towing way too many idiots out, just want to run up to the local beach a tie up with some friends.

I took my helm apart, cleaned & regreased it. I used synthetic brake caliper grease so it wouldn't eat the cable liner (which petroleum grease will).

I pulled everything but the cable yesterday, and it appears that I have the newer rack. The helm and the tilt are both a little sticky, since the boat was on the lift I didn't check to see if I could turn it easily with the rudder. According to Teleflex nothing is repairable, not sure I believe that. Has anyone taken a helm apart and cleaned it up and reused it. Looks like just cleaning it and adding some fresh grease would help.

Second question is, does anyone know what length the cable should be? SKIDIM has them in 1ft incraments, Whitelake just list them by the year. Because the floor is removable I don't think it would be a huge deal to take it out without feeing the new on at the same time, but it would certainly help if I could use the old one to pull in the new one.

Several years ago on my Mustang, I noticed hard steering to the right and it was fine turning to the left. What happened is the thick spring on the helm end of the cable that the gears grab hold on was broken. Turning to the left was pulling the cable. But when I turned to the right which pushes the cable out of the helm, the cable was bunching up between the gears because the thick outer spring the wraps around the cable was broken. Well it finally broke one day. I took the helm apart and there was a big "hairball" of broken cable fibers in the grease.

KileyB wrote: BuffaloBFN wrote: SNobsessed wrote: Yes, it looks like the prop is off to the right. Have you done a shaft alignment lately? Looks like the strut and rudder port have been removed as well. Do you mean to say removed and replaced again?

Yes, the sealant doesn't look factory.

SNobsessed wrote: Yes, it looks like the prop is off to the right. Have you done a shaft alignment lately?

I've never done one. Sounds a little scary even for someone who isn't too afaid to do their own work. I've considered calling the local boat shop to see what they would charge to do it. have you done it yourself before?

KileyB wrote: Is there anything else I should consider doing while I have the rudder out? I've heard people shave the rudder but I have no idea why.

Filing the rudder is for fine tuning. That comes way after the helm and strut...if at all.

Kapla went through this with his 92 ski Nautique.

Nautique Parts has everything you would need to get a new rotary helm.

I know Kapla just changed over his whole system, of course he was in Argentina and didn't have as ready access to parts. His old helm had pretty much disentigrated. You're right about it being a rotary system, and a little different from a lot of others. Just 91 and 92 had that it looks like.

I just replaced cable in my Resorter and was actualy cheaper to buy cable with the rack housing(helm)with all new bolts everything you need for silky smooth steering. Teleflex about $160 and worth every cent in my opinion.I know my cable was bad but for $25 less and an extra 1/2 hr no brainer.