Hooking up tilt tube steering.

[pman7]

I've got a 16ft. Oauchita and a 71 Merc500 with a worn out rotary steering system. My worn out system uses a brace on the transom's inner wall rather than use the available tilt tube on my motor. I think I want to get a new system that uses my tilt tube rather than the transom brace I now have.

I've noticed that Morse, Teleflex and other systems have nuts to secure the cables in the end of the tilt tubes. Do I need to designate a special size for my tilt tube thread connection? Do most brands of motors have a standard threading on the ends of their tilt tubes?

And generally speaking, which has the longer life and which is more efficient, rotary steering systems or rack & pinion systems?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Hooking up tilt tube steering.

Merc used a small tilt tube with the extermal threads on the cable end early on, but I don't think yours will be one of those. The most common style is pretty universal with the external threads on the tilt tube (and a nut on the cable sleeve to secure it).

Rotary vs Rack ... flip a coin. The rotarys are much easier to install because one end of the cable is completely limp. Rack cables have the rack on one end and the steering ram on the other. Rotary cables are much easier to route thru the boat during installation, so I usually estimate with those. Prices are pretty equal. Check behind the dash for adequate room for either helm mechanism. Before putting thru the tilt tube, fully extend the steering ram and grease the inner AND outer slides. Then run it all the way short and install.

 

[joblo33]

Re: Hooking up tilt tube steering.

You might need to hone the tilt tube first to get the cable in there too. I use the top of an old 20hp merc driveshaft in a drill, but anything with the right diameter would probably work.
Eric

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Hooking up tilt tube steering.

Pman, The steering systems that used the brackets in the splashwell were for the older (50-60s) Johnson/Evinrude motors which did not have hollow tilt tubes. Your '71 motor should have a standard tilt tube, which will marry up to any universal steering system.

 

[pman7]

Re: Hooking up tilt tube steering.

Thanks to all of you for your informative responses

Your '71 motor should have a standard tilt tube, which will marry up to any universal steering system.

Chris this was music to my ear/eyes or you know what I mean.