Loose Steering In My Prostar

[Brady]

We were out skiing today and we noticed that the steering is extremely loose. Normally, you should have a tug on the wheel and you need to hold the wheel or the boat will veer off. @scotchipman thought it was the steering cable since we have already ground down the rudder. You can turn the wheel a good 2 inches in either direction and nothing happens. Makes it very hard to track it through the course without that pressure on it. I am curious as to your guys thoughts and also, where the best place to buy a new steering cable is, if that is truly the problem. Thanks

[6balls]

Most often a worn cable is also difficult to turn the wheel, no? Seems like too much play...something in the rudder connection/assembly loose? Good luck trouble shooting.

[Brady]

I was suspect about the cable as well, and that is one of the reasons I am stumped. It is sooooo loose! Tons of play. We already ground down the rudder quite a bit last year. It was loose then, but not nearly like now. Don't understand, because the boat has been sitting in a 60 degree garage all year. @6balls, could you explain "the rudder connection/assembly loose?" a bit more. Am I looking at some dough, or is this a minor issue?

[thager]

Take a look at the steering column. Very often the rack/ pinion become worn and loosen up. I replaced mine in my 02 SN 196. Not sure about the MC.

[6balls]

@brady I'm no mechanic, but when I bought a used SN w/low hours I didn't water test as it was cherry and super low hours. I was a little concerned about play, but effort wasn't high.

I took it to a trusted mechanic and he did replace the steering cable, but it didn't help so he removed the unfortunately full gas tank to get at the rudder assembly. He said there was something loose in the assembly and he repacked the grease back there an it was all better.

 

Not sure how a MC is hooked up back there (hell not sure how a SN is hooked up back there...but trust the guy who worked on mine).

[6balls]

Stiff steering first thing I would do is cable and see how it works out. Money well spent to have a fresh cable and super smooth, low effort steering. If that's not it, investigate further but even if some other cause for play you won't regret that new cable.

[A_B]

If all the tiller arm connections are tight, have someone turn the steering wheel and see if the tiller or rudder move instantly or not. That will confirm if it is a neutral rudder issue or cable/rack. My steering wheel actually got sloppy on how it drove the rack, and you can try to turn the wheel and see if the rack moves instantly or not by getting up under the dash. Kind of process of elimination.

 

A cable with rack is around $250 parts and an hour or so to replace. Steering wheel base was a little less if I remember right.

 

Did you grind the correct side? If you didn't, it could cause a neutral pressure lock at speed. Check by turning wheel and feeling movement by hand, two people.

[BraceMaker]

Steering is pretty easy to do, but you need 2 people.

 

Pull the engine box, pull the rear floor.

 

From that point you get your buddy to rock the steering wheel back and forth a bit, while you watch the end of the steering cable at the rudder. If the cable isn't moving with the steering wheel, it isn't the cable, but more likely in the helm of the boat, good time to grease the cable.

 

You can also have your buddy turn the rudder, inspect rudder for play etc. from that same point.

 

Cable probably skidim, same with steering gear, they're usually reasonable.

 

 

[DW]

Look at the following: 1. rudder assembly / tiller / attachments (rudder bushings do wear & also add to stiff steering), 2. steering column tilt mechanism (U joint can come loose or wear) 3. steering mechanism. It might be a little of each.

[skihacker]

My malibu pulled this trick on me once, turned out there was a square key where the steering arm attatched to the rudder shaft, it had worked its way out. I got lucky and found the key way back under the gas tank and put it back in, use to check the pinch bolt a couple times a season from then on.

[Brady]

Thanks for all the great input guys. Hopefully I can get this fixed now that I know all of the possible culprits!