Stiff steering when turning right?
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13814
Printed Date: November-17-2024 at 4:36pm
Topic: Stiff steering when turning right?
Posted By: jayc
Subject: Stiff steering when turning right?
Date Posted: May-28-2009 at 8:08pm
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92 Nautique. Fitted new steering cable as old one had siezed up over the winter lay up.
Spins lovely and easy either way at idle but is very stiff turning right over 5 mph. Turning left is fine. Alignment issue maybe? ------------- 1982 Nautique 2001 - 351W Dual Fuel 1982 Ski Tique - 351W Dual fuel 1996 Maxum 210ss -350 EFI Dual Fuel |
Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-28-2009 at 9:37pm
Jay, When you had the cable off the tiller arm on the rudder did you check to see how easy it turned? Due to the prop torque, a boat will steer harder in one direction depending on the prop rotation. Alignment? What are you thinking here? Engine/shaft/strut alignment will not create the hard steer. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
jayc wrote:Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-28-2009 at 10:44pm
A bent strut would. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: jayc
Date Posted: May-29-2009 at 4:45am
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Tiller moves freely with no cable connected.
Boat turns easy at idle so as above I suspected a bent strut. Any easy way to check? ------------- 1982 Nautique 2001 - 351W Dual Fuel 1982 Ski Tique - 351W Dual fuel 1996 Maxum 210ss -350 EFI Dual Fuel |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-29-2009 at 9:15am
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Sight from the rudder to the skegs. Is the driveline on one side or the other?
I'm sure there is a more technical way, but this has worked for me. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-29-2009 at 11:27am
Greg, Yes, a bent strut will have a effect on the steering but general alignment won't. Interestingly, Century for years offset the rudders/struts/prop shaft intentionally to counteract the prop torque. Regarding the checking for a bent strut, a dry line could be strung from a skeg forward to somthing like a 1x2 vertically clamped off to the swim platform. Personally, I'd just "eyeball" it too!!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-29-2009 at 11:48am
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Pete, do you remember who did the good write up on getting his strut straightened not so long ago? I'm suffering from a friday morning brain cramp.
I went round and round with a bent strut on my old '79. They kept telling me it was supposed to be offset/bent, but it was barely drivable and I could see that it had taken a shot. I experimented with seveal set-ups and found that dead inline was the best. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: jayc
Date Posted: May-29-2009 at 11:48am
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My 2001 has the strut slightly offset and that steers fine. So does my V drive maxum. I thought it was offset to counteract prop torque as above and also to assist in removing the shaft but I guess it's just impact damage.
Will give it a good eyeball / measure up tomorrow. Now if it is slightly bent will a little tweak with a lever sort it or is it likely to crack? If so should I remove it or tweak in place? ------------- 1982 Nautique 2001 - 351W Dual Fuel 1982 Ski Tique - 351W Dual fuel 1996 Maxum 210ss -350 EFI Dual Fuel |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: May-30-2009 at 12:39am
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Jay - Here is how I straightened a bent strut. It took some tonnage, so I wouldn't twist it on the boat, as that would be pretty hard on the fiberglass.
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12867&KW=SNobsessed - Strut fix ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: jayc
Date Posted: May-30-2009 at 7:31pm
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Checked the strut today. From what I can see it's pretty much inline. I sighted it and ran a sting line from the skegs.
I dropped the rudder and there wasn't any grease in the box at all and also it was quite loose. I greased it right up and adjusted the top bolt so it was snug but not tight enough to bind. Not dropped in back in the water yet but will test it tomorrow. ------------- 1982 Nautique 2001 - 351W Dual Fuel 1982 Ski Tique - 351W Dual fuel 1996 Maxum 210ss -350 EFI Dual Fuel |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 10:03am
Do you remember which way the shaft was offset and what rotation was the prop? ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 10:17am
Greg, They all ran RH props even with the old Dearbomatic down angle trans. Don't hold me to the offset but I think the rudders were moved towards the port side of the prop. That would stand to reason giving more surface area for turns to starboard since the prop torque makes port turns easier. Or do I have it backwards?? What are you thinking of doing? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 10:28am
Well, we have our first weekend without rain so I decided to take the boat apart. 
When I did that repair on the strut area a few years ago, I didn't get it quite square and have been using shims on the port side to bring it straight. I'm just fine tuning it now. I would like to see the boat run flatter if this can be affected by using an offset. Does an offset affect that or does it mostly affect steering. I don't have a steering issue at all, but the torque is lifting even my big butt! In other words...riding starboard high. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 10:39am
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Greg,
I don't feel any offset would help with the hull torque, just the steering. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 11:07am
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sounds like your port side is filling with water already lol ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 11:22am
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OK funny guy...what do you see in the shop? Are most skiboats offset a touch or not?
I was sure you'd blame it on the BBC. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 11:25am
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offset to get the shaft out.
Greg, stop messing with the boat and run it...before you break it again ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: May-31-2009 at 11:38am
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To which side on a RH drive?
Sorry for the thread jack Jay. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-01-2009 at 2:12pm
Greg, I assume you have someone sitting in the observer seat too? My '90 runs dead flat with just me driving- if I add an observer and they sit in the corner, it lists to port at speed. Thats all by design! Have the observer sit closer to the centerline if it bothers you. ------------- |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: June-01-2009 at 3:39pm
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That's it Tim. Mine also runs flat with only me in the boat. I have people scoot around and get it just right. I also cheat with the cooler behind me!
I got into this because I wanted the strut mounted to the hull w/o shims like it should be. I was just wondering if the offset to one side or the other affected the attitude of the boat. What do you see in your garage(offset)? If you goose that '90 in the water in neutral, does it twist the boat? ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-01-2009 at 6:03pm
I dount that slight offset would change the attitude of the boat- the hull and prop rotation are the main forces at play here. Wish I could tell you what my '90 looked like- but its on the lift... and 3 hours away. I think I can twist the boat a little in neutral- it'll rock the trailer a bit. Its easier to do on the narrower 16 footers though! ------------- |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: June-01-2009 at 7:03pm
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I wouldn't be so hard on the shims, factory might not of used them but that doesnt mean it wouldn't have been better if they did. Neither of mine have an offset. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: June-01-2009 at 11:33pm
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Greg - Have you considered (gasp) trim tabs? ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: June-02-2009 at 10:57am
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Chris, it's barely noticable. I may be the only one to even think about it to this point. I also got it from a good source that Nautiques weren't built with an offset.
We'll see how it wants to act when I get it back together. I wonder if this may even be a characteristic of the V-hull...then add in the lighter hull and fresh engine. I think I'll just be happy with the pumpkin making a little torque.  ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: jayc
Date Posted: June-02-2009 at 11:18am
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This has gone some what off topic and as I haven't had a chance to but the boat back in the water I can't comment on the steering as yet.
But in relation to the above my 2001 has been re engined with a standard rotation 351 and this requires a lot of ballast on the passenger side to get the boat/wake to level out. It's only used for wakeboarding so it isn't an issue as it's sac'd out anyhow but it needs a good 400lbs more on one side to level out. ------------- 1982 Nautique 2001 - 351W Dual Fuel 1982 Ski Tique - 351W Dual fuel 1996 Maxum 210ss -350 EFI Dual Fuel |
Posted By: jayc
Date Posted: June-03-2009 at 11:51am
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Tried it out last night. Steers a treat now. Must have been lack of grease. ------------- 1982 Nautique 2001 - 351W Dual Fuel 1982 Ski Tique - 351W Dual fuel 1996 Maxum 210ss -350 EFI Dual Fuel |