hard to steer while under way
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=27408
Printed Date: September-26-2024 at 8:12pm
Topic: hard to steer while under way
Posted By: KileyB
Subject: hard to steer while under way
Date Posted: August-10-2012 at 9:37pm
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I've read several posts here and other sites and can't seem to find an answer so here it goes. I replaced my steering cable last summer. Steering remains difficult while under way but is smooth as butter while stationary. The steering box is slipping on the steering cable and needs to be replaced but is not the cause of the hard steering. Thoughts? ------------- '92 Excel |
Replies:
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-10-2012 at 9:50pm
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By that description, I'd stand a few feet back from the stern and sight the running gear to the front. If the prop is noticably to one side of the rudder, the prop wash will weight it. By steering box, you mean the clamp block in the back? How does it steer when it's in gear at idle? ------------- 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: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-10-2012 at 11:08pm
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You might also try coating the rudder shaft with anti seize or other waterproof grease. Wouldn't cost much to try. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: bhectus
Date Posted: August-10-2012 at 11:24pm
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Definitely pull the rudder and grease it. I have a thread on here about rudder packing, with detailed instructions/photos. ------------- '02 Ski Nautique 196 w/ 5.7 Apex bowtie - Sold '87 Barefoot - sold '97 Super Sport Nautique - originally custom built for Walt Meloon '97 Ski Nautique '83 SN 2001 |
Posted By: CarlosDiaz
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 5:27am
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Maintain boat pats is really a hectic work. For this purpose share some tips for it. ------------- http://atlanticmarinedepot.com" rel="nofollow - Mercruiser Parts |
Posted By: dwcar
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 11:01am
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http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25087&PID=320731ñZ" rel="nofollow - bhectus rudder maintance ------------- 83Ski |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 1:15pm
| Also, what year is the boat? Mine has a zerk fitting right on the rudder port. Just a couple pumps with a grease gun will help if you have the fitting and lack of grease is the problem. |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 3:28pm
I'll check the alignment this morning. Not sure what to call the steering mechanism. It's the large gear that the steering cable wraps around. The steering cable is slipping around it when the steering gets really stiff. It steers freely when idling to pick up a fallen rider or around the dock. Anything much above that gets progressively harder to turn. ------------- '92 Excel |
BuffaloBFN wrote:Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 3:31pm
Its a 92 Excel. It's does have the grease zerk but I think my mechanic greases it each year when he pulls it out of layup. I'll have to shoot some grease in there and see if that's it. It's like it binds up due to the force of the prop wash. ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 3:44pm
I feel this is the cause of your problem. Are you sure the helm isn't the cause of you're hard steering? If the cable rack is slipping on the pinon in the helm box, that's not good!! ------------- /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: oldcuda
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 4:19pm
| X2 on that, steering box has to go |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 4:25pm
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Steering box/Helm is a problem but not the problem. I can steer with 1 finger while at a stand still. When i'm running any faster than an idle it's a two handed effort which is when the cable starts so slip due to the force required to get the rudder to move. It only happens while under way. I can't do anything more than about a 1/2 or 3/4 of the steering wheel then it binds up. ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 5:17pm
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...also has anyone documented pulling the steering head apart? It seems that in 1991/1992 Nautique used the Morse Teleflex Rotary steering head. When I opened it up last week there was a white plastic piece that was chewed up (I just remembered this....that's what I get for driving boat non-stop at church camp last week). Anyhow I think the rotary gear in the back looks okay but it may be moving too much due to some sort of shim or spacer that's now missing. I hate to spend $150 when it may be something really cheap and simple. ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 6:08pm
Regarding the alignment of the prop and rudder I'm not real sure. I took a couple of pictures and it seems that the nut on the prop is not dead center but off to the right of the rudder. ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 6:19pm
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This one is a little better. Also, I had my wife turn the steering wheel in the driveway just now. It moved freely. I then pulled on the rudder as if there was prop wash going against it. It was hard to turn and the steering started skipping on her. The rudder has a little play in it. I'm thinking it's binding up under load and needs to be adjusted. I'm sure noeone has messed with it in the last 4-5 years or more so I figure that it's time to repack it. Unfortunantly my trailer doesn't have a removable prop guard so I'm going to have to tow it down to the boat ramp and lets the back end hang off the trailer. Thankfully I live 15 minutes from the river so it's not to much trouble. 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.  ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: GlassSeeker
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 7:15pm
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from what you describe I think you just should throw out the old helm and cable and go to a new rack and pinion system- new cable and helm. ------------- This is the life |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 7:41pm
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+1 I wonder when the rudder gets loaded if the helm binds and then slips. Why not disconnect the rudder taking that out of the equation and see if your problem is still there by holding the cabel end? ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: Dreaming
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 7:43pm
if the helm is the problem, Kroundy may have one if the parts are interchangeable from a ski to an excel. check out the parts section 
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Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 7:59pm
One more comment is that the newer boats seem to have problems with steering systems, what has changed? Certainly not the rudders they are about the same for the last 50 years. The cable? yes and the failure rate has gone up too. The helm? made from stamped steel compaired to the castings of the older ones. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: oldcuda
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 8:57pm
| 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. |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 9:05pm
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Yes, it looks like the prop is off to the right. Have you done a shaft alignment lately? ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: August-11-2012 at 9:41pm
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Kapla went through this with his 92 ski Nautique. http://www.nautiqueparts.com/steering.aspx" rel="nofollow - 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. |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-12-2012 at 9:11am
Looks like the strut and rudder port have been removed as well. ------------- 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: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-12-2012 at 4:13pm
Filing the rudder is for fine tuning. That comes way after the helm and strut...if at all. ------------- 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: KileyB
Date Posted: August-13-2012 at 2:29am
Do you mean to say removed and replaced again? ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: August-13-2012 at 2:33am
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? ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: OverMyHead
Date Posted: August-13-2012 at 2:40am
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http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21279&title=shaft-strut-alignment-video" rel="nofollow - alignmnet video ------------- For thousands of years men have felt the irresistible urge to go to sea, and many of them died. Things got better after they invented boats. 1987 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-13-2012 at 3:50am
Yes, the sealant doesn't look factory. ------------- 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: August-13-2012 at 6:30am
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I really don't feel that alignment is the cause of the hard steering. Maybe some but that would be in one direction only. You need to focus on that bad helm box. ------------- /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: Tim D
Date Posted: August-13-2012 at 1:21pm
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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. ------------- Tim D |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-13-2012 at 2:37pm
| My Excel is a little off center, but not quite that much, my Centurion was about even with that. It didn't cause any issues on that boat. The Excel isn't known for its handeling to begin with, mine has always been on the tight side and that will be the next thing I redo so I'm following. Sorry may not have much input, I've got 2 boats to detail and get straightened up from the drag boat race so I'm going to be very busy the next few days. |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-20-2012 at 12:11pm
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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. |
Posted By: OverMyHead
Date Posted: August-20-2012 at 2:29pm
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Use the cable to pul a rope or fish tape through that you can then use,to pull the new cable. ------------- For thousands of years men have felt the irresistible urge to go to sea, and many of them died. Things got better after they invented boats. 1987 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-20-2012 at 9:39pm
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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). ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-21-2012 at 11:11am
| After I got to looking at things and comparing them to what I found on the teleflex site I realized that the helm was wrong. I had a cable and helm for an outboard motor, not suprising because of where I got the boat. Got everything worked out with Billy's help and I will be replacing it all with the correct original cable. That was a very expensive call because now I'm probbably going to SJRR next year too. |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-31-2012 at 1:37pm
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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. |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-31-2012 at 5:02pm
At this point do you have anything to lose by trying? ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: August-31-2012 at 5:33pm
| 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. |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-31-2012 at 10:16pm
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Can you shim it so it has the clearance it wants? That way you can tighten the screws. No way would I leave screws loose in a steering component. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: GlassSeeker
Date Posted: August-31-2012 at 10:21pm
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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????? ------------- This is the life |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-31-2012 at 10:51pm
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It actually is a good weekend to stay off the water anyway. There won't be any decent water after 9AM. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 12:11am
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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? |
Posted By: cphase
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 12:16am
Really?  ------------- Thanks, Jeff http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6549" rel="nofollow - 82 SN http://www.archlinux.org" rel="nofollow - Arch Linux |
Posted By: cphase
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 12:17am
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Sorry, couldn't resist! ------------- Thanks, Jeff http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6549" rel="nofollow - 82 SN http://www.archlinux.org" rel="nofollow - Arch Linux |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 12:32am
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G:$ @&$m auto correct. Fixed it I hope. |
Posted By: cphase
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 12:36am
Much better now! ------------- Thanks, Jeff http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=6549" rel="nofollow - 82 SN http://www.archlinux.org" rel="nofollow - Arch Linux |
Posted By: KileyB
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 1:34am
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GREASE IS THE WORD. I grease the helm and its almost a one finger job now. I can't believe I lived with this for two years without trying to grease it. Feeling kind of dumb but at least I know now. It does need to be aligned. If I let go under power the wheel starts to turn left on its own. The helm head is worn out. Turning full left causes it to skip. Bottom line is that this is way better and highly recommended as a first step when someone is having issues with steering. There isn't any more play in the rudder when I try to jiggle it. I cam actually get the steering wheel to turn by moving the rudder now. I could never do the before. Can't say how relieved I am that it was such a simple fix.  ------------- '92 Excel |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: September-13-2012 at 8:44am
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. ------------- /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 < |