Sloppy steering

[SBH2OMan]

Question:

What is the most likely cause of sloppy steering? Even with a new engine and new Hynautic ram, the steering on my Parker reminds me of a '72 Landcruiser FJ-40 I used to have. In other words, it is very hard to maintain a straight course - I am constantly over-correcting and chicaning back and forth as I try to follow a compass heading.

It has always bothered me, but now I want to know if there is something that can be done. I'd say there is about 1/4 turn of play in the wheel. What is normal? Is the pump bad? Maybe low on oil? (I have not checked it recently, but I've had it filled and it never helped). Something else?

Looking for ideas of places to start checking.

Thanks!

 

[Brent]

I assume you bleed the system

Maybe the pump needs rebuilt

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... -pics.html

 

[SBH2OMan]

I assume you bleed the system

Maybe the pump needs rebuilt

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... -pics.html

I've never bled it but I've asked the local shop to do it (they are the ones that did the re-power). However, given that I've had to re-do just about EVERY single thing I've ever paid them to do (including hanging the engine and rigging it, installing batteries, etc) I can imagine that they may not have done a very good job.

Is bleeding the steering difficult? Can it be done on the water or does it have to be up on a trailer?

I've also noticed that turning the wheel lock-to-lock is "lumpy" (like it is hitting some bumps along the way). I assume this is not normal.

 

[Brent]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyf1NG4k97o


Teleflex has a tech sheet on their site

 

[windknotnc]

You have air in the system if you feel bumps and have play in the wheel. It takes 2 people to bleed the system, much like car or trailer brakes. Do you have any leaks at all? Look carefully around the steering wheel shaft and on your cylinder ends attached to the motor. If you have any leaks you are also getting air in the system. The magic of a sealed hydraulic system is that there is no feedback or wheel creep. Here is the link to bleeding your system. Starts on page 15.

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/wp-conten ... 6221-E.pdf

 

[Brent]

Did the shop who sold you the Honda work on the OX66?

 

[SBH2OMan]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a bleeding is in order.

Yes, the same shop worked (unsuccessfully) on the OX66. In fact one time when I went to pick it up after service the mechanic tried to tell me that it didn't have an O2 sensor. At that point, I bought a service manual, a Winky Blinky and decided to become an Ox66 mechanic. :evil:

 

[Brent]

We need to start a new thread called Good and Poor Service.
I know the info is on the site but it is scattered about
Having a running thread would be useful to everyone
Everyone is so knowledgeable and share their years of experience, a separate thread would be useful

Your shop is in Poor Service category.

I expect but cant prove they are more interested in selling new OBs than providing good bread and butter service and repair to their customers.
I wonder if they mis lead you on the OX 66 to lead you to a new OB.
Several auto repair in Indy was performing similar scams a few years in Indy and was caught in county wide sting operation and each was shut down and few folks went to prison

I hope you post their name so I can avoid them like a plague

 

[DaleH]

Is is possible you are experiencing the phenomenon known as "Deep-V or slow speed wander"?

True ... mod-V and deep-V boats are prone to NOT steering a steady course, regardless of a sloppy steering what not.

Look it up on the internet ... has to do with the pressure waves of the water exiting under the hull at slower headway speeds.

 

[SBH2OMan]

Is is possible you are experiencing the phenomenon known as "Deep-V or slow speed wander"?

True ... mod-V and deep-V boats are prone to NOT steering a steady course, regardless of a sloppy steering what not.

Look it up on the internet ... has to do with the pressure waves of the water exiting under the hull at slower headway speeds.

Nope this happens at full plane. My buddy with a 2120 thought I was just a terrible skipper until he took a turn behind my helm and couldn't steer straight either.

 

[ceblizzard]

Brent,
Do you have a second steering station? Does your boat steer the same with both stations? Just curious.

Charlie
Eden, Maryland

 

[soohoo]

I Have batteled the same problem , I installed a new pump ,did not help then teleflex told me replace the pump again mabey I had a bad one so I did . Did not help. I thought it might be the ram so teleflex told me to tilt the engines up turn a 1/4 turn, then time how long it took to for the engines to fall to the side . It took forever at least 4 beers.
I gave up and have decided like dale said just a deep V boat.

Until sunday when I was going over the engines and noticed the tie bar is really sloppy ,I tighten up the bolts and it really stiffened up the steering . Then I took it appart to see if the bolts had stops on them so you could not overtighten ( they dont ) but the 2 nylon spacers that kept the bolts tight in the holes were in peices . I cant find new ones so I guess I will buy a new tie bar .

Really the reason I posted was because I have worked on the steering so much and bleed it countless times I came up with a one man bleeding method

You buy a rubber air hose that will fit on the bleeding nipple get a clear hose , then cut the ends off . Attach it to the nipple and loosen, run the other end up to the helm .

Then set up the steering fluid like you would normally do to bleed it, but you cut a hole in the bottom of the quart when its upside down and put your air hose into it . Then you start to bleed . Because you are refilling the bottle as you are turning the wheel their is no need to have someone closing the nipple when you run low on fluid at the helm and you can see any bubbles come throuh the hose . Only tricky part is not spilling when you disconnect everything . Works great especially when you install auto pilot and you are running the pump to blead it out ( thats how I fixed my sloppy steering , auto pilot )
Derek

 

[windknotnc]

Necessity is the mother of invention. :wink: