Another steering question.

[gener8s]

Hi everyone,
I have a 2004 Bayliner 185 with a 3.0L and an Alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive, equipt with non-power rack and pinion steering. The steering has been stiff ever since I bought the boat 3 years ago. It's not to bad on plane once I set my trim, but at lower speeds it's pretty bad (makes my dash creak everytime I turn the wheel!). I have removed the cable and can move the drive back and forth without any serious effort, and the helm moves freely but does seem a little stiff (I can move the cable back and forth off the boat, but once coupled with the helm, forget it). From the part number I can tell that it isn't a NFB helm. I am going to replace everything and am wondering which avenue I should follow. Hydraulic, rotary, or another rack? The admiral refuses to drive the boat and I would like to make it easier to steer.
Thx!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another steering question.

Hi everyone,
I have a 2004 Bayliner 185 with a 3.0L and an Alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive, equipt with non-power rack and pinion steering. The steering has been stiff ever since I bought the boat 3 years ago. It's not to bad on plane once I set my trim, but at lower speeds it's pretty bad (makes my dash creak everytime I turn the wheel!). I have removed the cable and can move the drive back and forth without any serious effort, and the helm moves freely but does seem a little stiff (I can move the cable back and forth off the boat, but once coupled with the helm, forget it). From the part number I can tell that it isn't a NFB helm. I am going to replace everything and am wondering which avenue I should follow. Hydraulic, rotary, or another rack? The admiral refuses to drive the boat and I would like to make it easier to steer.
Thx!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Did ya clean 'n regrease the Inside of the aluminum tube at the transom,..??

 

[gener8s]

Re: Another steering question.

Thanks for the reply! Yep, the tube was pretty clean so I gave it a wipe and applied a liberal coating of 2-4-C. How stiff should the steering/cable be?

 

[1979 Quartermasters]

Re: Another steering question.

I had the same problem with mine. I could hardly get the wheel to turn even when not attached to the steering arm. I replaced the NFB teleflex steering cable and it was one finger steering after that. I have a v-eight and powersteering, but even with powersteering it was two handed steering....

Ken