Steering issue left turns only

[karayj]

1989 regal medallion bow rider 3.7 merc cruser alpha 1
So yesterday while tubing all of a sudden I was not able to take sharp right turns..... I can take what I call a slow right turn.. I have looked for obstruction like a clamp or hose. I have looked for any obstruction inside and im not seeing anything. The long bar underneath seems to go all the way left but not all the way right.... If you look at the picture on the Inside you can see that when I turn all the way to the LEFT there is still a gap and that is the the amount I am missing I need for a right turn. So is it a rack issue ?
There should be 3 things I think in play Obstruction in the gimbal ( not seeing one) Steering cable or the rack getting stuck to the end of a right turn. Is there a wat to disconnect the rack from the what I call gimbal rod of shaft that goes from the steering rack to the gimbal. This way a way I can move the gimbal / lower unit all the way right or left an eliminate the gimbal as the problem and focus on the cable and rack. The pictures show a full right and full left turn so you can see the difference

 

[alldodge]

Pull the pin which connects the steering arm to the power steering unit.

Then with drive down, by hand move it fuel left and right

If that works ok, check power steering fluid, then use muffs and start motor and see if it goes full left and right without the drive connected

 

[Bt Doctur]

Have you tried removing the straps and rope?

 

[karayj]

'Have you tried removing the straps and rope" I don't understand what you mean?...
Also side note in the past I do remember a few time where after I started forward from the dock and when I needed to turn it was if the steering was locked then in a hard forced panic turn it snapped and then i was able to have loose steering ..Something was binding it for sure and now I am wondering if it jumped a few teeth on the steering wheel rack set up front. I have seen pictures and my thought like a timing belt it may have jumped a few teeth throwing it off center

 

[karayj]

So today I was able to lift up the pin yours remove the bar for the steering rack this is the piston bar and it's interesting because who did this by accident I removed the wrong pin and I'm glad I did because I notice a possible error.
After I remove the pin the outdrive was able to move freely left to right with the proper span remember my previous post .
I was saying that when taking a right turn the outdrive did not swing all the way or as far as a left hand turn.

So now we know that it has something to do with the steering rack and I want everyone to look at this because when I put the piston back and the pin back, when turning the wheel left and right everything is back to normal but I noticed there's a lot of play in the steering rack and I'm going to send you these pictures in this post.

Basically there's grease oozing out and I don't think this is supposed to move up and down I think the rack is damaged, remember I told you in the previous post that there would be times where I would leave the dock under way and I'd have to turn the wheel with extra force as if something was jammed or stuck well this may have something to do with it let me know your thoughts. Should the are circled be able to move vertically and why is grease oozing out. In the last picture that is the piece moving up and down

 

[Bt Doctur]

Should the are circled be able to move vertically and why is grease oozing out. In the last picture that is the piece moving up and down
Yes, it will move just like a gimbal bearing , up, down,and sideways

 

[karayj]

OK So I dont need to replace it cool I wanted to make sure it was normal

 

[karayj]

So here's an update I removed one of the pins off the steering rack and I noticed that one I'm taking a right hand turn now that that piston rod does not come all the way out of the steering rack it short about an inch maybe an inch and a half which is the compensated loss of that right hand turn so it looks like the piston on the steering rack is the problem when I turn the wheel on the boat it goes freely there's no binding or sticking so I think it's the rack.
There might have been a tooth in there that I may have snapped or crack remember again I was telling a story on how sometimes it would stick and I'd have to force it I won't panic at the dock and then it would engaged so for $70.00 I can find Iraq I think I'm going to install it and take the hit .
Also the outdrive once disconnected from that pin goes freely left to right no problem it's that piston I'm gonna call it the longer one 'cause I know there's two that is not coming all the way out of the rack short about an inch and a half which in retrospect compensates for the loss of that right-hand turn .

 

[karayj]

Does anybody have directions or know where I can get some instructions on how to remove a rack.
There is a compartment that I can take apart for more access but I just need to know if that's really required it's the back of the boat area where there are some seats and what not.
I think I can remove that from the boat making a rack removal easier I'll put some pictures in later

 

[alldodge]

Finding the unit for $70 it must be used. If it is used then it may be in bad shape like yours

Might think about replacing with new style

So far as removing, its a pain with the motor installed and hardest part in most cases is the bottom pin

 

[karayj]

Well I may not be the rack after more investigation.... It may be the cable that pushes the shaft needs to be adjust maybe?
I an not a boat expert but can eliminate things.
IF you look at the pictures I took the shaft is not extending fully. Now what I need to figure out why it the the steering cable because the cable goes into the shaft area on the rack and seems to do all the extending and contracting the rack just makes it easy.. I noticed where the cable goes into the rack that there are threads for adjustments. I just want to make sure I change the correct part the makes the shaft extended 2 inches more. The picture shows the shaft that connects to the outdrive turned all the way to the right and the out drive it manually moved all the way right.. "How do I make he piston come out more and why is it not coming out more " ??????

 

[alldodge]

That has to do with the cable and helm.

 

[karayj]

So I removed the steering cable to inspect but I now cannot put the cable back in an tighten the nut.
I need to be able to push the cable in the cylinder another 1inch but cannot and now tighten the NUT for the cable...

 

[alldodge]

The cable goes in/out has the helm is turned. If the cable is as far out as the helm is tuned then the helm needs to come apart to find out what slipped or broke

 

[karayj]

That is what I am thinking all this time ..the HELM thanks !! I am now understanding all this better, the system is one piece and something at the helm is not letting the cable go a few inches more forward into the rack.

 

[karayj]

So first of all I'd like to say thanks to everyone out there that replied to my post it really helped all the problems that they had.
Basically through a process of elimination I was able to figure out that the steering bar I will call it with teeth underneath the steering wheel goes all the way to the left to the very end but it will not go all the way to the right to the end it seems to get stuck why I don't know and unfortunately I can't take it all apart and rebuild it. So with a flat head screw driver tooth by tooth it moved it slowly to the left 95% and got stuck then went right to the end and was able to see the end with a screw driver.
So as I mentioned in my previous post there were a few times were it was if it was stuck or binding and uh that's it now I'm thinking of re bolting it up at forcing it I don't think I'll break the steering wheel but I really don't want to damage the teeth in the steering box attached to the wheel.
Now how do a find a replacement I have a 18.5 1989 regal medallion bow rider. How do I search?
It’s a Teleflex from what I have learned and seen

 

[alldodge]

Look for a length of the cable, after that you can decide on rack (like you have) or rotary. Most have to do with how much room you have. I have rotary and this has more teeth holding the cable because it wraps around the gear

 

[karayj]

I don't need a rack . So I measure the helm piece is 2 feet then there is a 8 foot run to the back then 4 feet to rack . I guess 14 would be it.

 

[karayj]

So I found what I need Morse 300619 - 168 IN 4411 [h=1]Teleflex SSC12814 14FT where do I go on this sit to find used one?[/h]

 

[karayj]

looking for guidance teleflex steering cable 14ft

So I found what I need Morse 300619 - 168 IN 4411 or Teleflex SSC12814 14FT
where do I go?