Loose Steering at slow speed

[jclafayette]

Hello, I have a 1995 reinell V-6 merc with an Alpha I Gen II stern drive. The Steering acuator (new style) is very loose at slow speed. It is impossible to motor slow in a straight path. The trim tab is set and holds a straight path at speed.

The steering cable housing threads on to the acuator tube and the cable goes through the tube and attaches beyond the tube. The tube has two flat spots for a wrench, and they are vertical as the book says. Mounting bolts and pins are all tight.

It is the tube that has ALOT of side to side movement. Over 1 inch. Can this free play from side to side be adjusted ? The port side of the acuator housing has internal nut that threads into it. It is a ring with holes as though a spaner type wrench turns it and a screw on the top locks it into place. A new complete unit is only a couple hundred $ but will the new one be the same?

Really appreciate any input. Thanks

 

[Anchor Management 1]

Re: Loose Steering at slow speed

If you go to the O/D does it move back and forth? If so it is a gimbal ring.I have done many of them for the same issue.

 

[wfdbackdraft]

Re: Loose Steering at slow speed

Newbee to the boating world here. This post sounds like what happened to me yesterday morning. It's the 2nd time out on my new to me '92 Sea Ray BR. After leaving the ramp, it seemed like the motor was making a different sound, and I could not keep it pointed in a strait line. The first time that I took it out, I don't remember this being a problem. So after getting through the no wake zone, I open her up, get on plane, and then the rpm's jump, and the boat stops. There is no drive, forward or reverse. A friend helped me take the lower unit off, and it feels like the gears are stripped inside.
The reason that I'm posting on his question, is to see if the two problems are related (steering and lower unit destroyed), and maybe save him from going through what has happened to me. I don't even know what the gimbal bearing is, but could that have caused my lower unit's problem?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[jclafayette]

Re: Loose Steering at slow speed

Hello,

I just completed replacing all the bellows and gimble bearing. The shift bellows failed so I did all the others and the bearing while I was there. Not a task for the timid. Every thing is in very good shape at the gimble and had the engine alignment checked as well.

The steering issue has taken 1 - 1/2 years to get this loose. I wish I could find a break down of the newer style steering acuator !

All the free play is in the acuator.

Thanks again, John

 

[Bondo]

Re: Loose Steering at slow speed

The steering issue has taken 1 - 1/2 years to get this loose. I wish I could find a break down of the newer style steering acuator !

Ayuh,... Look in the Factory Manuals posted in the Adults Only section....

 

[jclafayette]

Re: Loose Steering at slow speed

Hello,

Looked through the factory manuals and it clearly states that the "later style" steering acuator is non - servicable. No adjustments exist. Unfortunatly there are no specs or tolerances regarding cable guide vs.control valve. Mechanical drawings do not really show much of the later style.

When I get a new one I will tear the old one apart.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Blake05]

Re: Loose Steering at slow speed

I?ve got the "newer style" control valve, says it's not serviceable like the older one. Same issue you have. Did you ever get a new one and take the old one apart, any luck?

It?s not too terrible to drive w/o power steering or maybe I do have the system working but I expect too much. It?s just that I do feel it kick in when I turn hard and the steering is smooth and effortless for an instant. Is that the way they are designed?