Tight steering 95 SN

tight steering from April 26 in this section

First identify the problem before getting a cable. Disconnect the cable at the rudders tiller arm and test. Pulling the rudder from the port or replacing the cable are not difficult. The hardest part of R&Ring the cable is getting the new one in! If it comes down to a cable, tie the new to the old to pull the new one in.

8122pbrainard wrote: tie the new to the old to pull the new one in.

Be sure to do this!!

If your 95 is anything like my 96 SNOB, which could be different, you can take the bilge blower hose off the air box and reach your hand in to help feed it through. I would have never got my cable through by just pulling with a rope at the other end.

Snap some pics and let us know what your air box looks like.

I was bummed I couldn't do this with my cable, would have made life MUCH easier. They have the steering box that gets in the way. Works like a dream with throttle cables!!!

I helped a buddy replace his over a long lunch hour. It is easy to do. Call N3 or WhiteLake and they will sell you the proper cable.

I just called N3   they are quoting the Cable item # S2205   at $291.00   does that sound right?


on another note   I read else where that   this problem could infact be due to a problem with the rudder . ie   needs to be greased or shaft repacked ?    Any thoughts on that ?

how do I get to the tiller arm to make the disconection

with a 95 you'll have to remove the back seat (back rest and bottom) along with the access panel. You should be able to reach everything from there without removing the gas tank. The tiller arm is located under the gas tank on the left side. The right side has has the exhaust running through it. You'll see it once you get in there

I just went thru this not too long ago. Pretty simple process once you know what your doing.

Ok. Today I opened up the boat. Took off the engine cover took out the back seats. Pulled up the floor boards. And disconnected the steering cable from the rudder assembly    Result. The rudder moves smooth as silk on it's own. Verdict I need to change the cable. After all that work taking everything apart I am confident that it should not be a problem to Change the cable.   So I called N3. According to them the cable is $ 291.00. I'm going to order and tackle the job in about two weeks from now.    Any comments are welcome.   Thanks for all the advice so far

WOW. I just finished changing the cable. I must say that siting in the drivers seat with the new cable in was very satisfying. The steering turns so smooth. I could turn it with one finger. The job was actually so easy. Took 90min. Took of the engine cover, took out the back seats , lifted up the floor board. Disconnected the cable from the rudder.
Then I removed the 4 bolts that hold the rack end of the cable. This is just under the dash. Then I pulled the old cable out.

The trick is to tie a rope onto the end of the cable so that when you pull it out the rope comes threw with it, you can then pull the new cable back threw in the other direction.

I had my son help me with removing the cable as it's a little hard to just pull in out. we needed also to feed it from the other end.   Then you just tie the rope onto the new cable a feed it back the other way. Also a two man job

Once its in place , Connect it to the rudder.   You then need to bolt in the new rack. To adjust the steering wheel so that it is in the right position when your rudder is straight you should bolt the rack in with just 2 bolts. I suggest cross corner. Then turn the wheel till the rudder is exactly straight. Then loosen the 2 bolts so that the wheel can spin freely, with out turning the gear in the rack. turn the wheel as if you where going straight. While holding the wheel in that position bolt in the rack. You should at this point be done.

I did purchase the cable from N3. Brad was very helpful and they give a 10% discount on parts to CCF members

So it cost me $261.00 plus $30.00 shipping.   

All in all I am so happy with the results.

Thanks to everyone who posted the above info. I am sure I would not have attempted this project with out all your explanations and supports

Thanks    

       

You will mprobably find that you will need to readjust the wheel since due to the prop rotation, a straight rudder isn't necessarily straight if you know what I men. Congratulations though. You'll enjoy not fighting with that steering anymore!

Actually. now that you mention it. the old cable that I pulled out was just a little longer than the new one. around 4" I think someone had put in a 20ft cable sometime in the past.   the new one I got from N3 is the exact original cable. I did wonder in the past why there seemed to be slack in the cable down in the bow.   Anyway good luck with your install

Yeah, I saw that thread too. Because of time constraints I called Teleflex directly and they said the only difference is the 6" length. I will know for sure tomorrow and will post my findings.

cool ... let me know. i am curios if I over spent to get the "correct cable"