1971 StarCraft holiday

[tannergallant123]

Hi guys, I have a 1971 StarCraft holiday with an inboard 153 ci 2.5 L 120 HP mercruiser. I’ve fully restored the whole interior and I’ve fully rebuilt the motor. (Has been a never ending project). I’ve finally got the boat to back to being reliable. I’m from Canada and I took the boat out to go fishing after it sat all winter and the steering was locked up. It’s been stiff for years but have just dealt with it. Does anyone know if I can upgrade the steering system or what replacement parts I would need to do so? It’s also very sticky shifting from forward to neutral so if anyone has any information on upgrading/replacing the shifting system that would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[jbcurt00]

Hi guys, I have a 1971 StarCraft holiday with an outboard 153 ci 2.5 L 120 HP mercruiser. I’ve fully restored the whole interior and I’ve fully rebuilt the motor. (Has been a never ending project). I’ve finally got the boat to back to being reliable. I’m from Canada and I took the boat out to go fishing after it sat all winter and the steering was locked up. It’s been stiff for years but have just dealt with it. Does anyone know if I can upgrade the steering system or what replacement parts I would need to do so? It’s also very sticky shifting from forward to neutral so if anyone has any information on upgrading/replacing the shifting system that would be great. Thanks in advance.

Outboard Mercruiser?

 

[tannergallant123]

Sorry my bad, inboard.

 

[jbcurt00]

Inboard/outboard, I/O.
Use this topic for your sticky controls, moved to Mercruiser forum

Start a topic about steering update in the steering forum

 

[tannergallant123]

Thank you

 

[tannergallant123]

Hi guys, I have a 1971 StarCraft holiday with an inboard 153 ci 2.5 L 120 HP mercruiser. I’ve fully restored the whole interior and I’ve fully rebuilt the motor. (Has been a never ending project). I’ve finally got the boat to back to being reliable. I’m from Canada and I took the boat out to go fishing after it sat all winter and the steering was locked up. It’s been stiff for years but have just dealt with it. Does anyone know if I can upgrade the steering system or what replacement parts I would need to do so? Any help would be great. Thanks in advance

 

[Bondo]

Thank you

Sorry my bad, inboard.

Ayuh,..... Is it a full-on inboard, with a transmission, or more likely a Merc I/O,.......
I suspect we're talkin' 'bout an I/O, with a Merc MC-1 drive,.....

Either way, disconnect the aft end of the cable, 'n figure out whether it's stuck / tight in the helm / cable, or in the outdrive / rudder,.....

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Same question as I posted in yer other thread,......

Is this a full-on inboard, with a transmission, or a Merc I/O with an MC-1 outdrive,..??..??

 

[tannergallant123]

Merc I/O with an Mc-1

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... So, it's not an inboard,......

Instructions are in post #7,...

 

[kenny nunez]

Most likely the cable is binding inside the tube on the inner transom plate.
what color is the steering cable outer jacket? If you look closely the length of the cable is printed on the jacket. Is the helm under the panel round or straight. You will need a new cable but first it will help to identify it.
Also the shift interrupt switch is either not connected or the switch is broken. The switch is located where the shift cables are connected.

 

[tannergallant123]

Most likely the cable is binding inside the tube on the inner transom plate.
what color is the steering cable outer jacket? If you look closely the length of the cable is printed on the jacket. Is the helm under the panel round or straight. You will need a new cable but first it will help to identify it.
Also the shift interrupt switch is either not connected or the switch is broken. The switch is located where the shift cables are connected.

Ya as far as the shift cables go the two brown wires weren’t connected to my ignition coil so I’m going to try that out. As far as the steering goes the cable is black and it’s 16.5 feet. The helm is straight. I took apart the cable at the back and unseized it but it’s still very tough to turn and does get full extension so I’d rather replace it. Picture is a little blurry but that’s before I took it apart. Would a teleflex system work?

 

[kenny nunez]

Your cable looks like a Det mar . The cable and rack were usually sold as 1 piece.
It looks like some company called Dometic may have bought out Det mar many years ago.
You will have to buy a complete new helm/cable kit. To be sure for a correct cable length fit, measure the length of the plastic jacket, add 30“ then round it to the next foot. That should get you a replacement.

 

[tannergallant123]

Your cable looks like a Det mar . The cable and rack were usually sold as 1 piece.
It looks like some company called Dometic may have bought out Det mar many years ago.
You will have to buy a complete new helm/cable kit. To be sure for a correct cable length fit, measure the length of the plastic jacket, add 30“ then round it to the next foot. That should get you a replacement.

Perfect thanks for your help. Is the nut that holds the steering cable to the back bracket of the picture I posted above usually the same size? Could I just order a teleflex rotary system and buy a new rotary steering wheel? As long as the nut is the same size it should theoretically work no?

 

[tannergallant123]

It’s 14 feet of jacket and adding the 30 inches brings me to 16.5 feet which is labelled on it. My steering wheel moves perfect without the flat gear attached. Am I okay to go ahead and buy a teleflex cable that has the same flat gear that mounts to the steering wheel? My only concern is the nut size I posted below if it’s a one size fits all or if that size changes

 

[Bondo]

Could I just order a teleflex rotary system and buy a new rotary steering wheel?

Ayuh,..... You can switch to a rotary helm if you want, 'n have the dash space to mount it,......
Or,.....
You can get a new rack, 'n pinion like in yer picture,.....
Either way, buy the helm, 'n cable Kit, so you know everything fits,.....

The only threads that will absolutely fit to the old parts, is where the cable meets the aluminum tube on the outdrive / transom plate,.....

 

[kenny nunez]

Google Dometic straight rack cables. There might be a universal cable rack that fits your helm. The thread pitch is universal so you do not have to worry about that.

 

[tannergallant123]

Thanks for all your help.

 

[tannergallant123]

Ayuh,..... You can switch to a rotary helm if you want, 'n have the dash space to mount it,......
Or,.....
You can get a new rack, 'n pinion like in yer picture,.....
Either way, buy the helm, 'n cable Kit, so you know everything fits,.....

The only threads that will absolutely fit to the old parts, is where the cable meets the aluminum tube on the outdrive / transom plate,.....

https://www.amazon.ca/SeaStar-Solut...5&psc=1&mcid=4c6d942f95d63bdb8ccd1cc3a70bc775 would this potentially work ?

 

[dubs283]

would this potentially work ?

Very slim to zero chance the new cable you link to will mount properly to the helm. I've replaced enough old helm/cable systems to know the old helm will not work with a new style cable

You are best off following previously posted advice and replace both helm and cable. Most likely you'll need a new steering wheel as well as the old style helms/wheels were designed/manufactured differently than today's. Be prepared to drill new holes and possiblly cut part of the dash to make a new helm fit properly

When it comes to steering you don't want to risk anything, better off going all new than risk a disasterous failure while underway