Play in steering

[cecho]

I've got some play in my steering I'd like to get out. The outdrive will move side to side a few inches. I do not believe it's the gimbal ring or steering arm. The gimbal ring is tight on all four "corners" and I do not see any play between the steering lever and the swivel shaft or gimbal ring. I've traced the play to the booster rod assembly (The whole assembly moves) but cannot for the life of me figure out what it attaches to. It's very cramped at that part of the boat and the only view I have is blocked by the exhaust.


Page 6-4 in manual #4. Ignore A and B. E looks good. F looks good. Everything else wobbles as a whole unit.


http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...20&bdesc=POWER+STEERING+COMPONENTS(V-ENGINES)

Is a diagram I've found. I assume I'm looking for #24 to tighten, but I can't find it. Before I removed the back storage box to get back there I was going to check for advice here. I can get my hands back there easily enough and if I knew what I was feeling for it'd be relativity easy to tighten it up.


1979 898 MC-1 gimbal and bell housing. (Alpha 1 outdrive has replaced MC-1)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Play in steering

Ayuh,... Is this with the motor, Off,..??

If so, I'm guessin' yer feelin' the shuttle valve looseness,...
It pretty much goes away with hyd. pressure...

 

[cecho]

Re: Play in steering

Yeah, that's with the motor off. I'll try it with the motor on after the sun comes out.

 

[cecho]

Re: Play in steering

Total play went from about 3 inches to an inch and a half with the engine running. I'll have to get back in there and take a look to see if there's a loose bolt or nut somewhere when it's not sleeting.

Normally this wouldn't bother me since every boat I've ever owned has had at least this much play in it, but I read there should be 0 play and I'd like to get to that point. I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to maintenance or repair issues that can noticeably affect handling and performance.

 

[Mule Laker]

Re: Play in steering

Total play went from about 3 inches to an inch and a half with the engine running.

You say there should be no play at all with motor running? Is this true?

 

[cecho]

Re: Play in steering

You say there should be no play at all with motor running? Is this true?

Well, I've read several posts about the gimbal ring where I've read there should be zero play. That's always been in context of a worn gimbal ring though. I was kind of hoping for a confirmation of that in this post. There are no specs for side to side movement of the drive as far as I know. I can't find anything in the manual about it. I can tell that my entire steering system has two spots with play. A little bit near the wheel and most of it on the power booster rod. There seems to be zero play in the gimbal ring and steering arm.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Play in steering

cecho, there will always be some play in the sterndrives unless you have the power steering hooked up to the side of the outdrive via the transom such as found on high performance race boats. I just had 2 completely new power packages put in. New engine, transom assemblies, sterndrives and power steering rack and even they have a little wiggle. Thats normal.

 

[cecho]

Re: Play in steering

Thanks, that's probably all I'm seeing then. Being new to Mercruisers I just wanted to make sure the thing won't fall off the boat when I take her out this weekend.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Play in steering

A little play is normal but you want to make sure the powersteering rack is in tight. Have your chiropracter standing by.

 

[cecho]

Re: Play in steering

That's OK, I can double as a contortionist, it's just hard to do it blind. What does the rack connect to? I'm not sure where I need to check the tightness at. Does it just clamp onto the steering cable? If so, what does the steering cable attach to? It's got to attach to something solid for a cable like that to work.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Play in steering

Not absolutely sure on an alpha 1 but on an alpha 1 gen 2 its the transom assembly left hand side if you were facing the front of the engine looking towards the back of the boat. It would make sense it would be the same for the alpha 1 but I know they updated the rack even since they came out with the gen2 so it may be in a different position or side for the gen 1.

 

[cecho]

Re: Play in steering

That would make perfect sense, because that's the side I have the most difficulty getting to. :uncomfortableness:

I'll take a look tomorrow if it/s not sleeting.