Strong pull to the left

[ll05]

Hello...long time lurker, first time poster!

The details... 1984 Chaparral 187
Mercruiser 470 engine
Alpha one outdrive

I bought the boat about 3 weeks ago, and have taken it out twice. When I bought it, it had a Stinger "whale-tail" on it, with the edges chipped off. The anode/skeg directly above the prop was also broken off. I replaced the anode and positioned it to what I thought was the proper way(the skeg points towards the side with the pull). I also removed the whale tail.

I am unsure of the steering system brand, but I know it is manual steering. The boat pulls hard to the left at speed(25-45mph). If I was to let go of the steering wheel, the boat would make a U-turn at full speed, doesn't feel that safe. The wheel seems to just want to turn left. After doing much reading/research here on iboats.com I figured that the anode replacement, the steering would come back to neutral.

I also noticed that after removing the Stinger whale-tail, if I trimmed the motor up, the engine or prop seemed to slip (ie. in a manual transmission car, the clutch was slipping). This was not noticable with the whale-tail until turning.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks,

Lee

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Keep turning the trim fin in the direction of the hard pull.Pulls left turn farther left.
If the prop is slipping under load then you probably have a weak hub in the prop.This would do it under acceleration too.Do you have the drive up too far when turning?Drop it down a bit when turning.See if that helps.Jerry

 

[MikDee]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Here check this:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=250928

 

[ll05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

I appreciate the responses guys!

I was going to take a pic of the drive when I put it up last night, but of course I forgot. Since the boat is pulling to the left (the drive is moving to the right, correct?) So I need to move the trim tab to the right (ie. the leading edge of the trim tab should be pointing right?).

MikDee, I have seen that post before, as well as another trim tab post that shows an illustration.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Strong pull to the left

To adjust the tab, the simple thing is to remember to turn it in the direction of the pull. If it pulls left, turn the tab to the left.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Strong pull to the left

OK...this seems SOOO basic, and it is driving me nuts, and maybe it's because I'm a moron, or maybe it's because nobody has explained exactly which way is left and which way is right, and what perspective we're starting from. Do we turn rear of tab left? Or front of tab left? Or twist it left from above? Or twist it left from below? And which way am I facing when I'm looking down on it?

Even JB's post referenced above only says he's looking down from the top. BUT...which way is he facing? Some of us adjust while boat is on the trailer and we're standing behind the boat looking down (body facing toward bow). Yet others adjust while boat is in the water and we're looking down from our swim platform (body facing aft). So iIn these two scenarios, left is right, and right is left. And I'm still a moron cause I just don't get it.

Someone please clarify...

If my boat is pulling LEFT and I want to correct it. And my boat is now on the trailer for an easy adjustment. And I am standing behind the boat staring at the prop (facing the same direction you would if the boat was driving forward away from me). And I loosen the nut for the anode and I'm looking down at the nut it because the prop is down by my feet...

Should I:

a.) Grab the BACK of the anode fin and push it toward my left, so the leading edge of the anode now points to the right, and so looking down from the top (if I could see it thru the ventilation plate) I have just rotated it clockwise,

OR

b.) Grab the BACK of the fin and turn it to my right, so the leading edge of the anode it pointed a bit to the left, and so looking down from the top (if I could use my xray vision to see thru the ventilation plate) I have just rotated it counter-clockwise?

My gut says the answer is A, so at speed the water impacts the left side of the little fin, which in turn pushes the rear of the outdrive to the right, forcing it into a gentle right hand turn which should counter-act the boat's tendency to want to pull left. Am I RIGHT? or am I WRONG? Someone who is less of a moron than I PLEASE clarify???

Thank you!

 

[RJLeuwen]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Answer "A" is the corect way to adjust the anode fin.

RJ

 

[MikDee]

Re: Strong pull to the left

You really are making a mountain out of a molehill! When I made up this sticky, I thought I covered all bases, as simple as I could, apparently not.

I didn't say hang over the swimdeck you're normally outside the boat on dry land, doing the adjusting, right? Behind, and looking down at the outdrive, as though looking through it, turn the tab as mentioned in the link, if pulling to the left, move the back of the tab to the left, Yes this will help the drive turn to the right, but in your situation it probably won't completely fix your problem.

 

[ll05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

I guess you are talking about craze1cars response?

If I get the anode positioned the correct way, and it still does not help the "strong pulling left", what are some other things to look at?

Again, I appreciate all of the responses.

Lee

 

[thumpar]

Re: Strong pull to the left

I guess you are talking about craze1cars response?

If I get the anode positioned the correct way, and it still does not help the "strong pulling left", what are some other things to look at?

Again, I appreciate all of the responses.

Lee

Bent skeg maybe. I can't think of anything else that would do it other than the anode.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Think of this way, if you steer to the left, that means the drive itself is angles to now left looking at it from the rear skeg, when you adjust the little fin your positioning it to apply force to push the unit back to the right, twist turn right twist left whatever, you want the water hitting the fin to push the drive back to the right. Ok I just confused myself.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Eureka! Absolutely I'm making a mountain out of a molehill...self-declared morons will do such things. And now I DO indeed get it and have confirmed my gut feeling was correct. Thanks for humoring me and providing another level of clarification.

 

[ll05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

I took the boat out again, and tested it. It still pulls to the left. Is there something (ie. seals, bearings, something?) that could cause the drive to pull hard to left? The steering wheel does have about an inch of play in it.

Appreciate it!!!

Lee

 

[ll05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Is it possible to be in the gimbal ring, or gimbal housing? Would slop in that location cause a hard pull to the left?

Thanks,

Lee

 

[MikDee]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Apparently the play is normal, I'm just guessing here, but maybe the hydraulic piston on your steering assembly, has a defective check valve, causing some of the fluid to be sucked out, and the piston, & rod, to slowly be sucked into a closed position (which would pull your outdrive to the left, or try to). Hence pulling to the left, I would suspect this if nothing else seems wrong with the hull, or outdrive. This is just off the top of my head, I
don't know if there's a test for it? But, I would disconnect the steering ram (rod) on the outdrive, and start the motor up, get the power steering working, and see if the rod sucks into that piston by itself? Or, try turning the wheel (helm) with it disconnected, and see how the full range of steering reacts on the steering rod (ram) if it has a tendency to pull in (a left turn)? At least, that's what I would do, it is a mechanical/hydraulic part, that could possibly fail. Good Luck Mike

 

[ll05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

The boat does not have power steering. Does that eliminate anything?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Oops! My Bad, :redface: Alrighty then, I'm guessing that your prop turns Clockwise in forward, like the majority of boats,,, Or does it turn Counterclockwise a minority? (One of those Canadian boats j/k)

If the leading edge on the prop, (towards the front of the boat), is on the right (when looking at it from above), then it's a Right Hand prop, if the leading edge of the prop is on the left, it's a Left Hand prop.

RH props pull to the right, LH props pull to the left, I think it's because it is also scooping water from it's respective side, pulling the outdrive in that direction, as it pulls water from the front.

 

[ll05]

Re: Strong pull to the left

I am pretty sure the prop rotates clockwise. Any other ideas? I know I can just drive the boat like it is, but I am afraid if someone else drives it, it is possible for them to wreck it.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Strong pull to the left

Next, Pictures please! Thanks Mike

 

[CaptainGeorge]

Re: Strong pull to the left

I have a 19foot Renken I/O that does exactly the same thing! It is "new" to me also. I've talked with West Marine boat mechanic and he sugested for me to buy and stinger whale tail. He also said that I could have and "over pitched prop".
Please e-mail if you find the answer and I will e-mail you if I find the fix.
Thanks