Steering Question

[bke]

I have a 1999 Tide Craft Tophy Angler with a 125hp Mercury ELPTO. When I have the motor straight the steering wheel is upside down. Is there an easy way to fix it? So the wheel is the right way up.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Steering Question

You can't just pull the wheel and put it back on, as the wheel and shaft are "keyed". When the motor is centered, the woodruff key should be on the top of the shaft. Is that how your's is? You'll have to pull the wheel to see...

I assume you have cable steering, probably Teleflex NFB or a rack system...

 

[bke]

Re: Steering Question

I have two plastic red hoses going form the steering wheel to the motor

 

[Stachi]

Re: Steering Question

I have two plastic red hoses going form the steering wheel to the motor

those are your shift and throttle cables...get in your boat , go to the helm , and turn the wheel and watch your engine...you will see what it is that makes it steer.....

 

[bke]

Re: Steering Question

No they aren't the shift and throttle cable. The two hoses are the size of your thumb. I know throttle and shift cables aren't that big.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Steering Question

My wheel has splines no problem moving it how I want it

Only way you can tell is remove the wheel or at least remove the nut

If it is keyed I wouldn't attempt to rewind the cables to make it straight

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Steering Question

It sounds as if you are talking about hydraulic steering.

Determine what system you have and we will go from there..... I'll bet there is a name on it.

 

[alwims]

Re: Steering Question

Sounds like hydraulic steering hoses. Do you have a hydraulic ram on your motor? I just installed the Baystar Hydraulic Steering on my bassboat and I find my steering wheel is upside down at times also, but I can live with it for the power steer I've got now. There may be a way to remove screws to reorient your wheel, but without a picture know way to know.

 

[bke]

Re: Steering Question

hope these pictures help

 

[Stachi]

Re: Steering Question

No they aren't the shift and throttle cable. The two hoses are the size of your thumb. I know throttle and shift cables aren't that big.

its cool , we get a lot of new folks on here who don't have much experience...didn't mean to offend...

 

[alwims]

Re: Steering Question

Those aren't hoses. They are cables and you have double cable rack and pinion steering. I would pull the middle section on your wheel and see if there are some screws in there to rotate your wheel. If not you may be stuck as the shaft will be keyed and will only go on one way.

 

[bke]

Re: Steering Question

its cool , we get a lot of new folks on here who don't have much experience...didn't mean to offend...

lets back that train up now. I never seen throttle cables attached to the steering before. Beside on a tiller style motor.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Steering Question

look, you are new here, I didn't know if you knew where your steering happened...sometimes on this forum we have to give really in-depth instructions to people...as I said before, I didn't mean to offend you... welcome to iboats forums...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Steering Question

Okay this is fixable

Center the wheel upside down and loosen the 8 bolts (you will be separating the racks)...... once they are disconnected from the steering wheel ..... rotate the wheel 180 degrees and re-attach everything.

 

[bke]

Re: Steering Question

okay I will give that shot tomorrow. thanks for the help

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Steering Question

Yes the racks are just bolted right across the pinion.... one disconnected you can move the pinion (which holds the wheel) and you should be done. ........ Just go slow and have patience

 

[bke]

Re: Steering Question

I have it fixed thanks for the help.