steering problem

[booboo]

2nd time out this season and started having steering issuses.ran fine first day. 2nd day was fine up to sand bar.when went to leave it starts pulling hard to the left.almost have to hold the wheel to 4 oclock position.very hard to hold it there.if i let out of the throttle it will turn very fast and sharp to the right.hammer it again and it takes off to the left hard.very hard to keep it straight.cant find anything caught around the prop or outdrive.no dings in porp or bent. steering arms look to be ok to me. fluid is full in resivore tank. at idle or just off idle it is fine. any ideas?
thanks boo.

 

[Big Red]

Your driving a death wish brother and you are on the verge of flipping the boat. Your king pins and gimble ring are worn out bad.

Plus let me say this if you trim up the drive it gets worse rite

When I bought my Convincor thats what it did to a T. But I knew what it was on the test drive which I got the price lower by 5 grand.

Parts that need to be changed Gimble ring, top and bottom pins and the steering arm. All the parts ware out together at the same time. If anybody tells you different they are full of BS.

The reason it pulls hard to the left is from the engine torque and its making the slop go that way. When you let off the throttle the kick back from the drive makes it turn right and the slop goes that way.

 

[booboo]

thanks big red.its going to the shop.sucks they are a week behind.any idea on about how much it cost? i imagine the labor is what is going to kill me.

 

[Big Red]

thanks big red.its going to the shop.sucks they are a week behind.any idea on about how much it cost? i imagine the labor is what is going to kill me.

Try Kunkles they do good work and treat you right. Plus the fact you will be dealing with the person thats doing the work not no salesman. Your looking at 2-2500 I belive the merc gimble ring alone is around 1500.

You better replace all the rubber boots while your in their also. I do not belive in a rebuilt or repaired ring. Your messing with your life and the people that are in your boat.

 

[ndaniels]

Easy way to check and see if your gimbal ring is worn out- grab ahold of the drive and lift it up and down... if its the ring, you should see movement at the top where the u shaped clamp is.

I'd call up Ron Bender about his repair method: http://www.jrmarine.com/
You'll save a fortune... I'm sure that Kunkels can do the repair, or Ron himself can. Ron did mine right after I bought my boat... used a rebuilt ring he had on his shelf because mine was cracked in 3 spots at the upper clamp (could have easily lost my drive).

If you call up Kunkels ask Jason what he thinks about mine (its sitting in his shop). Its a much better method than merc uses, imo.. the only thing better than the J-R repair would be buying a complete new transom assy.


Ron and Kunkels are both stand up to deal with...

Here's pics of the outside of the transom assy after the repair...

 

[ezstriper]

If just started all of a sudden, my bets the contol valve took a crap....at the transom...if never changed may still have the old style on it....best to update to the new style, need to change the hoses and the fitting on the back of the pump on some...did my 251 a few years ago...you may have worn gimble as well...but sounds like the power steering pushing the boat to one side

 

[ndaniels]

If just started all of a sudden, my bets the contol valve took a crap....at the transom...if never changed may still have the old style on it....best to update to the new style, need to change the hoses and the fitting on the back of the pump on some...did my 251 a few years ago...you may have worn gimble as well...but sounds like the power steering pushing the boat to one side

That makes alot of sense.. just re-read first post and see it was all of a sudden