Difficult steering

[Steve876543]

Hey all, I'm new to boating. Recently got my first boat, an 86 Cajun (19 ft) w/ a 115 hp Johnson.<br /><br />It's pretty tough to steer it. It takes a lot of force to turn the wheel at times.<br /><br />Can you suggest what the problem may be, and what I could do to fix this? Or is this just to be expected?<br /><br />Thank you for any help you can provide me.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Difficult steering

What type of steering? Hydraulic, cable and pulley, or teleflex single cable? If its teleflex, grease the cable. If its cable and pulley, replace it with a teleflex. Don't know about hydraulic.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Difficult steering

If it's harder to turn in one direction than the other, adjusting the trim tab may help. This is the small tab under the anti-ventilation plate. If less effort is required turning to port at WOT, move the trim tab slightly to port [and vice versa]. You may have to re-adjust it several times to get it right.

 

[Steve876543]

Re: Difficult steering

It is pretty tough in both directions.<br /><br />I'm not sure what type of steering I have. How can I tell, so I can reply?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[gwman]

Re: Difficult steering

what does WOT stand for?

 

[Duck Loads]

Re: Difficult steering

I am facing the same deal on my '89 Ranger. It has a Morse dual rack and pinion steering system. The cables have the rack attached and cannot be taken apart to clean and lube the internal cable. I am looking at replacing the entire system. Ouch.<br /><br />Good luck,<br />Duck L.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Difficult steering

Steve - First thing see if you can disconnect the steering at the motor and then try and swing the motor from side to side. It should move freely by hand. Grease all fittings while you are at it. Ask a friend who knows something about boats to tell you what kind of steering you have. Then get back here with your findings. <br /><br />gwman - It is much easier on all of us if you confine your questions to the subject posed by the poster rather than introducing something entirely new. Having said that WOT stands for wide open throttle as in pedal to da metal.

 

[Steve876543]

Re: Difficult steering

Will do. Thanks So Little.<br /><br />Well, actually thank you so much.

 

[vwall]

Re: Difficult steering

If the boat motor is outboard, it could be the steering cable it self or gummed up grease in the steering arm..<br /><br />the cheapest way to investigate the 2 are to turn the motor exposing the shaft arm and cleaning off the old sticky grease with say, carburetor cleaner, work the motor back and for several times until as much of the old grease is gone....<br /><br />Make sure you wipe it down real good then get a can of White, Lithium spray grease and re lubricate the shaft.<br />Turn the motor frequently to work the grease in...<br /><br />This should help considerably.. but with manual steering its always gonna have resistance...<br /><br />This helps make it more manageable..

 

[Harry Blanchard]

Re: Difficult steering

It sounds as though it may be as simple as trimming the engine up or down since it seems to do it at certain times, perhaps at different power settings. Try and trim it next time out and see if that is the problem.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Difficult steering

I am having a similar problem and mine is a dual cable.<br />It is hard in both directions with boat on trailer or in water.<br />I cleaned it last night and sprayed it down and am going to check it today to see if it is any better.<br />Just started it at the begining of this year after winter storage so I am hoping that it is just gummed up.

 

[Steve876543]

Re: Difficult steering

I just wanted to report back, and thank everyone for the advice. Sorry for the delay, I've bee out of town for a wedding.<br /><br />The combination of cleaning the steering arm of excess grease and adjusting my trim more while driving has improved my steering quite a bit. Took a couple times of exposing the steering arm, cleaning off any grease, and then using the cleaner for it to make a difference though, just in case anyone else tries this.<br /><br />Just curious, would a larger steering wheel provide more leverage to further ease steering?<br /><br />I realize that some difficulty will always be there, just trying to minimize it best I can.<br /><br />Thanks again!

 

[DJ]

Re: Difficult steering

Steve,<br /><br />Many steering systems have a "maximum" wheel diameter. By putting too large a wheel on, you could overtax it .

 

[Steve876543]

Re: Difficult steering

Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll check the manual to see if this system has a maximum.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Difficult steering

Steve - Some boats have a friction adjustment near the steering wheel. I would suspect that you would have seen it by now. Have you disconnected the steering at the motor to verify whether the problem is with the motor or with the cable?

 

[Steve876543]

Re: Difficult steering

Yes, sorry. I did disconnect it, and it's better when it's not connected, which makes me think it's in the motor.<br /><br />Or...<br /><br />I just disconnected it again last night, partially to double-check, and partially to clean the steering arm again (since that helped the last time I went out). Silly question (maybe): the steering arm isn't supposed to have a slight bend in it, is it? It's supposed to be straight as an arrow, isn't it?<br /><br />That could be the problem, because I noticed that it's not perfectly straight. Problem is I can't find that part name/number in the parts catalog. Anyone know the official name of the steering arm (if it's not steering arm), so I can pursue a new one?<br /><br />Thanks.