Steering loose

[ynnad]

Now that I am back in the water, I noticed some play in the steering on my Enforcer I/O...the gimbal and tiller are tight, but there is some play where the cable connects to the power assist cylinder at the transom...is this normal?

I don't think there is an adjustment here, but there is some movement at the cable/cylinder interface when I move the outdrive side to side...

Do I need to overhaul the cylinder?

Dan
__________________
1990 Enforcer 7.4 MPI

 

[Gimme Fuel]

I have this same problem with my bravo.....hopefully someone will give us a hint with what to fix

 

[Big Red]

I had the same problem 2 at one time. I would bet money that on Gimmie Fuels boat its the king pins in the gimble ring.

The only way to correctlly fix the problem is to replace

Gimble ring
king pins top and bottom
and steering arm that connects to the top king pin

all thease parts ware together and their is no way around patching them. If you looks at my pics good you will see the steering shaft and king pin is square. What happens they start rounding the corners. And that little bit of ware is what gives you you sloppy steering. I at first thought it was my cable.

The problem comes from running big blocks and speed and the back lash from torque. Thats why Hyd. steering is better it elminates most of the ware.

 

[Gimme Fuel]

Sorry BR...not the issue....I have the upgraded IMCO HP gimbal ring that was replaced a year ago.....I dunno about the steering arm though....I haven't really looked too hard at it yet.....too many other issues that keep fighting me.

 

[Big Red]

If the steering arm was not replaced it needs to be. It also wares at the same time as the other parts. What year is your boat

 

[ynnad]

OK

My boat is a 1990 Enforcer...it was changed from a small block to big block in about 1999. When the new engine went in last month, we inspected gimbal, steering arm, and pivots.

The play I am talking about occurs when you have someone move the outdrive right/left (only moves a small amount), you can see the cable moving inside the boat at the power steering control valve. This is the only free play movement between the outdrive and the steering wheel.

I know the cable moves this control valve to trigger the power assist. I have not tried this with the engine running, so I don't know if the play goes away when there is hydraulic pressure at the control valve.

I haven't been able to find any specs on adjustment or how to check this out.

Thanks
Dan

 

[ezstriper]

if it's where it goes into the control valve, you will need to replace the valve, also you need to ck this with the boat running for the valve to have pressure on it, unless it has been changed you should have the old style valve and are no longer serviced, there are some NOS one around but are very expensive, it's better to change over to the new style which requires changing the hoses and maybe the fitting on the back of the pump...did mine was no big deal.....Rob

 

[Gimme Fuel]

mine is a 1997

 

[ynnad]

Rob

thanks

I will check it tomorrow with the engine running.

Dan

 

[winter]

Red speaks of my problem, a worn gimble ring. I just delivered it to sponsor Lakeside Resto. this evening to have a full once-over done plus address the sloppy steering on my Bravo. Jamie did note that there is a way to patch/shim and tweek the ring in order to buy a year or two our of it, but i'm leaning towrds just getting it replaced. And yeah, my next move after this mess is to have hydraulic steering put in

 

[Big Red]

I can not belive a boat repair shop suggested to patch the gimble to cure sloppy steering.

I am fully against any patch work on steering thats down rite dangerous. When you almost roll a boat over because the steering was sloppy you will think twice about patch work.

 

[Water Bug]

X2

 

[winter]

Lemme rephrase that.... He wasn't convinced the gimble ring was at fault for the sloppy steering, if it is, then there is no patch. What I should have said was there is a small bit of vertical play in the drive and it may be taken out with some shimming (can't explain beyond that). sorry bout that, it was late and I was enjoying my 3rd Pennsylvania beer by that point

 

[Big Red]

Most of the time the square king pins start to round a hair. I am talking a 1/16 or less on the top and bottom pin and the that much on the ring and steering shaft. You take all five parts and add them together you get bad steering. How many hours are on the boat.

 

[winter]

Most of the time the square king pins start to round a hair. I am talking a 1/16 or less on the top and bottom pin and the that much on the ring and steering shaft. You take all five parts and add them together you get bad steering. How many hours are on the boat.

Understood. I have around 200 something hours since new, so it's low. The previous owner (2nd owner) had the entire drive redone last summer and had a lengthy list of parts that were installed. The gimble ring was not replaced. My guess is something wasn't put back together properly. We'll find out soon enough. I was eyeing up some of the new bravo xs (?) drives and surface drives laying around at the shop. There is a early/mid 70's Convincor there, fully restored with a full-zoot 383 with whipple and a new bravo xs. At only 18 feet, it apparently is quite a handful!

 

[Big Red]

Keep us updated what you find

 

[winter]

Will do. You alwaya hope it's nothing huge, but i told the guy just replace the ring if there is any question. I really want to save my $$$ for hydraulic steering though.