I spent this summer getting a 1983 Sting Ray cuddy 19' into shape. It has a 470 merc engine (no hating the engine please) and an alpha one gen one outdrive. I've replaced the gimball bearing and U-Joints and all the appropriate bellows'.
Last night we took it out for it's first test run and among other issues, it was difficult to steer and had a lot of steering feedback and wanted to pull to the left all the time. It does not have power steering.
In fright, I read posts today about the costs of replacing the gimball ring and so on my lunch break I sped out to the boat to check for that problem. I tied both trim cylinders to the trailer with tie downs so the drive couldn't move left or right, then I tried moving the steering wheel and the lever that moves the gimball ring wouldn't budge without the gimball ring moving too...so, I don't "think" it's the gimball ring.
So, why do I get so much steering feedback?...and why is it a little difficult to steer in the water but not on the trailer? any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Last night we took it out for it's first test run and among other issues, it was difficult to steer and had a lot of steering feedback and wanted to pull to the left all the time. It does not have power steering.
In fright, I read posts today about the costs of replacing the gimball ring and so on my lunch break I sped out to the boat to check for that problem. I tied both trim cylinders to the trailer with tie downs so the drive couldn't move left or right, then I tried moving the steering wheel and the lever that moves the gimball ring wouldn't budge without the gimball ring moving too...so, I don't "think" it's the gimball ring.
So, why do I get so much steering feedback?...and why is it a little difficult to steer in the water but not on the trailer? any ideas? Thanks in advance.
