1978 Starcraft Holiday 18 I/O steering issue

[DCS30]

Hey guys, I have a 1978 Starcraft inboard, and I'm just wondering if anyone here has experience adjusting the steering/steering cable, as it's hard to turn to one side now for some reason. You can steer to the other side effortlessly, and also when you're trimmed all the way down, it pulls hard in one direction. Everything is lubed up and the cable (via the window on the steering wheel) looks ok.

I'm new to the forum, so if this is the wrong section, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[southkogs]

Have you checked the steering gear in the upper case? That's a Stringer drive, correct?

 

[DCS30]

what do you mean by "stringer" drive?

 

[kenny nunez]

Try to post a picture of your out drive. Stringer means the way the engine is mounted in the hull.

 

[DCS30]

i'll be popping in to look at it this week, i'll grab a pic (currently parked at a friend's place)

 

[DCS30]

Here are some photos. If you want more/different ones, I'll be going back to it this week sometime, so I can grab more. Thanks!

Edit: I just realized you asked for a drive pic. I'll grab one next time...sorry about that.

 

[southkogs]

That's tru-course on an OMC Stringer. I'll have to claim "know-nuthin'" status on that. The cables are available out there, but I don't know if they can be serviced or what kind of influences the drives have them.

Some simple stuff would be to make sure your swivel is greased up, and maybe open the upper and see if the gear is chewed up.

 

[kenny nunez]

Is the steering easy to turn in both directions when the boat is on the trailer In the full down position or in the water not running?
If the steering is not binding then look at the marks on the rear of the exhaust outlet. There is 1 which is larger and usually is the best setting.
If there are no problems then try feeling the steering resistance while trimming up or down in some calm water going in a straight course and you should end up at some trim setting where there is about the same feel of resistance in both directions. This will change with throttle settings or someone moving around in the boat.
If you are pulling water skiers then you will want a trim in to keep the bow down.
You will get familiar real quick and learn how to attain the best setting for each cruising speed.
True Course came out in 73 but from the earliest days OMC used the internal worm gear steering that had a cable pull-pull using a outboard helm. And there was the exterior cable that came out the transom and mounted to the exhaust housing.
I hope this helps.

 

[DCS30]

Is the steering easy to turn in both directions when the boat is on the trailer In the full down position or in the water not running?
If the steering is not binding then look at the marks on the rear of the exhaust outlet. There is 1 which is larger and usually is the best setting.
If there are no problems then try feeling the steering resistance while trimming up or down in some calm water going in a straight course and you should end up at some trim setting where there is about the same feel of resistance in both directions. This will change with throttle settings or someone moving around in the boat.
If you are pulling water skiers then you will want a trim in to keep the bow down.
You will get familiar real quick and learn how to attain the best setting for each cruising speed.
True Course came out in 73 but from the earliest days OMC used the internal worm gear steering that had a cable pull-pull using a outboard helm. And there was the exterior cable that came out the transom and mounted to the exhaust housing.
I hope this helps.

when the trim is all the way down, it's hard as hell to turn in one direction, and pulls (like a car when the alignment is off). when you raise it a bit, it's much more balanced and easier to turn. i honestly haven't tried it in the driveway, as i assumed it probably had to do with the resistance in the water. my dad bought this new, and i've been driving it steadily for the last 20 years or so, and i never remember it being like this. i'll have to try it in the driveway this week and see what it's like.

 

[DCS30]

here's the gear and the drive, which was asked for earlier (ignore the horrible paint job...we used the wrong paint ....) when i was turning it while in the driveway it felt fine. nothing really felt out of the ordinary, so it only happens in the water. i didn't see any of the aforementioned marks on the exhaust outlet. not really sure what that is that you're referring to.

 

[kenny nunez]

here's the gear and the drive, which was asked for earlier (ignore the horrible paint job...we used the wrong paint ....) when i was turning it while in the driveway it felt fine. nothing really felt out of the ordinary, so it only happens in the water. i didn't see any of the aforementioned marks on the exhaust outlet. not really sure what that is that you're referring to.

 

[kenny nunez]

Look at the rear of the exhaust outlet where it contacts the rear of the drive just above the bolt that mounts it.

 

[DCS30]

Look at the rear of the exhaust outlet where it contacts the rear of the drive just above the bolt that mounts it.

two of us looked and neither saw that you're talking about. is it possible that it's not in that spot on this drive?

 

[southkogs]

You're looking for a piece that looks like this:

... or perhaps this:


There should be a scale on the metal, and you can adjust the trim for the lower unit. Should be almost straight up from the propeller.

I'm wondering since it happens when you're trimmed all the way down if the drive isn't swinging too low on the quadrant gear. If you tilt up just a little bit (like, bump the button) you said it works better?

 

[kenny nunez]

The exhaust housing he should have is more stream lined than the one with the screen.
However the marks are just rear of the rear vertical mounting bolt and there is a oblong slot that the bolt is in for left to right adjustment. You can try loosening the 2 mounting bolts and moving the tab left or right to experiment.
Using the quadrant gear to trim the drive is not good and will result in stripped ball gears.
The other tab is for a 400-800 model.

 

[DCS30]

oh my gosh, we were looking at the upper exhaust outlet. ok, it's all making sense now haha. i believe the marks are painted over, but i know 100% what you mean. we were also looking for marks on cables and such. we got too complicated with it apparently!

i am curious though, what's a quadrant gear?

thanks for everyone's help on this, by the way!

 

[kenny nunez]

The quadrant gear is the gear that is attached to the upper gear housing for lifting the drive.

 

[DCS30]

oh right. yeah, we've never once done that.

 

[DCS30]

You're looking for a piece that looks like this:
View attachment 340513
... or perhaps this:
View attachment 340512

There should be a scale on the metal, and you can adjust the trim for the lower unit. Should be almost straight up from the propeller.

I'm wondering since it happens when you're trimmed all the way down if the drive isn't swinging too low on the quadrant gear. If you tilt up just a little bit (like, bump the button) you said it works better?

not using tilt, no. trim motor only.

i think that piece is off centre just slightly. i'll play with it once it's in the water in the near future. thanks!