Steering left goes right, right goes left

[racemd]

OK, just assembled a little outboard boat. It came with the steering cable that goes in through the tube of the engine mount and connects the steering to the rod. The cable is going up the starboard/right side to the helm. The steering box has a threaded side and a non threaded side. The cable has a nut that fits the threaded side so I figured it most go there. I inserted the cable, secured it with the nut. Took it out for a spin and turning wheel left, boat goes right, turn right and boat goes left. So i figured that the cable would go into the non threaded side and though that will fix the problem, nothing is now holding the cable so the cable moves and not the engine. How do i fix this? I also looked at the steering mechanism itself but I do not see any bolts where I could take it apart to change something inside of it.

 

[racerone]

Any pictures of the steering as installed.----It is not assembled correctly at the helm.

 

[racemd]

Any pictures of the steering as installed.----It is not assembled correctly at the helm.

The console is tilted forward in the 4.jpg picture, the steering wheel is on top that console. I uploaded 3 pictures.

 

[racemd]

The console is tilted forward in the 4.jpg picture, the steering wheel is on top that console. I uploaded 3 pictures.

The cable in 3.jpg has a big nut that threads onto that steering box in 2.jpg, its the lower side of the steering box. When put in that and secured, the steering is backwards. If it put that cable in the non threaded side, it would work but nothing holds that cable to the steering box, so the cable moves, not the motor.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

I had the same problem once back in my youth. That boat had a steering rack and I re-installed it upside down. Sure made for an ‘interesting’ day at the lake!

Is it possible that your helm unit was made to be used with the cable running down the port side?

 

[GA_Boater]

Show a picture of your helm in the normal position from the steering wheel side. Back up so the entire hunk of wood is seen. I think the rotary box is facing the wrong way because it won't fit the right way against the side panel. Just a guess.

 

[oldboat1]

Steering ram has to come into the other side of the engine.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

That’s one way to discourage drinking and boating.
my vote is to swap sides at the outboard as well. Good th8ng you didn’t have to cut holes in the boat to get it there.

 

[racerone]

Likely the cable is not long enough to switch at the motor end.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I may have done the same thing with my first restore, cable steering. Very humbling.

 

[racerone]

These cable steering units are fairly standard .-----Something very simple is wrong with the way the unit is mounted on the console I say.----Is this a new unit ?-----Used unit ?

 

[racemd]

I have figured this out.. I have a teleflex with quick connect but have a old style cable for a older steering box.