Alpha one gen 1 steering arm slop

[procleanguy]

Hi guys, so I just bought a boat. 1991 18' with a 3.0lx. Alpha one gen 1. I have play in the steering arm. It's tight on the gimbal but up inside the housing it's loose. Steering arm has an inch or so of play side to side. Is there a way to tighten this up ? I can see the top nut with my phone jammed down there looking in and it doesn't move but the arm does for that inch or so. What can I do??

 

[04fxdwgi25]

The nut on top holds the steering pin and adjusts the clearance on the lower pin bushing. The steering arm is then clamped onto the steering pin by a pinch bolt that clamps / squishes the arm to the pin. That pinch bolt / nut are on the sides.

There are kits to gain access to the nut from outside the transom assy. One from mercruiser and one from, JR Marine. The do it differently, by result is the same. But they both require some surgery on the transom assy.

Probably will need to do the steering pin replacement with a S/S pin, associated parts and a new steering arm. Just did it on my B3. Look up JR marine and they have videos showing what has to be done. Not for the faint hearted.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Best to pull the drive and do it right

 

[procleanguy]

The nut on top holds the steering pin and adjusts the clearance on the lower pin bushing. The steering arm is then clamped onto the steering pin by a pinch bolt that clamps / squishes the arm to the pin. That pinch bolt / nut are on the sides.

There are kits to gain access to the nut from outside the transom assy. One from mercruiser and one from, JR Marine. The do it differently, by result is the same. But they both require some surgery on the transom assy.

Probably will need to do the steering pin replacement with a S/S pin, associated parts and a new steering arm. Just did it on my B3. Look up JR marine and they have videos showing what has to be done. Not for the faint hearted.

I have looked at the kits but this is gen one and the kits say for gen 2. I really don't want to pull the motor out. Is the steering arm aluminum? Seems the pinch bolt might be loose or arm is worn out. Hopefully the kit works on gen1 and I can see if it's just loose

 

[04fxdwgi25]

That arm is aluminum, but since it is loose, I would suspect that it is wollowed out on the steel pin a bit and may not tighten.

 

[procleanguy]

That arm is aluminum, but since it is loose, I would suspect that it is wollowed out on the steel pin a bit and may not tighten.

Well I'm going to drill it out tomorrow and hopefully get it apart and replace the steering arm if it doesn't tighten up. thanks for the info!