Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

[christians89]

Hey everyone, Ive had this annoying problem with my boat since I bought it and have finally had enough. Problem is my steering gets more and more difficult the faster you go. I realize it will do this naturally since there's no power steering, but this is must more difficult than is should be. It literally takes both hands and a good bit of force to budge the wheel when going anything more than 15mph. You can feel it getting progressively harder from 0-top speed. Is there anything I can oil, I feel like there is something dry that can be oiled and my steering will be restored. Ive had the steering cable disconnected from the foot and it moves very free by hand. Also the steering is easy peasy when turning idling in gear. Please help, I may need to work out but Id rather not get it from my boat!

 

[Don S]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Assuming you have the boat listed in your signature, is this a straight inboard with a rudder ???? If it does have a rudder, do you have cable or hydraulic steering?

 

[christians89]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Sorry, yes it is the boat in sig. Its a stern drive, cable operated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

could you help us out by letting us know what kind of stern drive?

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

could you help us out by letting us know what kind of stern drive?

most likely it is a PCM sterndrive

 

[Don S]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Never heard of a PCM sterndrive before, and I have been working on boats for a long time. Got a link to one?

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Never heard of a PCM sterndrive before, and I have been working on boats for a long time. Got a link to one?

Sunliner boats used the pleasure craft stern drive for about 10 years ( I think) He has a strange rig. It is a Mitsubishi engine BW gear fed into a stern drive. I have the same setup except no outdrive. The shamrock site might have more info on the drive. Sounds like his cable is bad and will not take any load.

Parts for engine etc. http://skidim.com/default.asp

 

[christians89]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Lyle you are correct, its an 89 sunliner with pcm engine and foot (sterndrive). There wernt many made as far as I know so parts are very scares. I figured a cable should be a universal part though. Also i may be wrong but if it were the cable wouldnt it be difficult to steer while at slow speed? Mind me as I am not a very big marine mechanic but I am a certified automotive tech.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Your steering cable would not be made by PCM You can get one at any boat store or online. A good way to test it is have some one hold your drive in place while you move the wheel. It will be a little more difficult but you should be able to over power them with ease. If your drive is turning free then it's your cable. You might need to disconnect the cable to see what your problem is. For other problem with anything that is pleasure craft marine related do a search or try the links that I use. PCM powered most all of the sunlinner and Irvette boats and some shamrocks. I have a ton of info on your engine if you want it.

I have the same engine, a PCM gear with a 8% down angle into a shaft ( inboard)

http://skidim.com/default.asp

http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/forumdisplay.php?5-Pleasurecraft-Marine-PCM-Forum

 

[christians89]

Re: Hard to to turn steering wheel at speed, help!

Thanks lyle, Ill check out that cable soon. As for pcm boats, I dont see why they were not very "popular" I love mine. It rides good, gets excellent fuel mileage, and that mits engine runs like a sewing machine! Also thanks for the links, whenever I do need hard parts for this thing I often find myself calling numerous ooold marinas all over the country trying to find things so those will come in handy! Email sent.