Stiff Stearing

[Domsz06]

Hey everyone,

It's been a while since I've been on, but was wondering what everyone things on this problem I'm having.

My steering is rather stiff. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on stuff to check or what? I didn't want to take it in to have it warrentied if it's just a minor thing. Don't want to loose a week worth of boarding;) Thanks for the info.

Dom

Oh yeah, i have a 03, 21ir

[tkuzma]

I had a stiff, racheting steering. Turns out they zip-tied the steering cable to the other wiring. Dealer re-routed the cable. Works great now.

[Domsz06]

whoops, i might have done that with another wire, i'll look into that.

Dom

[Domsz06]

Ok,

went out to the boat today, and tried to figure out what is up with my stearing. I followed the cable, no zip ties were tied to it. The ballast manifold I have was not in the way either. after the plate that was attached to the bottom, there is a four bolt piece of metal. Has four bolts in it and the plastic part of the cable stops just after it. It was loose, but didn't appear to be bad. The only thing I can think of maybe I need toput some more greese on the cable, or I have something wrapped around the rudder. Anyone else have any ideas?

Dom

[VinRLX]

Dom, if your boat were older I would say the cable might need replacement, but not in an 03. Did you look for zerk fittings on the rudder post? Not enough grease (or too much) could make for stiff steering.

[Domsz06]

What do you mean by the zerox fittings? I am really stumped. I'm gonna take it up probably next week and have them fix an exhaust leak(don't know why I have one since it's so new, and have them fix the steering as well.

Dom

[VinRLX]

Zerk fittings are little nipples you can attach a grease gun to. But, anyway, sounds like your dealer will handle it for you. Let us know what they find.

[Domsz06]

I'll look for the greese fittings now, and I was just gonna put a little lithium greese on the actual cable to see if that helps. I don't feel like leaving it up at the dealer for a week or two right now.

Dom

[Domsz06]

Sprayed a little Lithium greese and put a bit of greese on the zerk fitting. Still stiff as all get out, so I guess I'll take it up next week when I'll be out of town. Kinda stinks

Dom

[Beau McCrory]

my steering is also stiff. so bad my wife can hardly turn the boat when i'm boarding. gonna get it looked at this week....

[Domsz06]

Yup that is my problem too. It is so stiff it's a two hand steering job. it Sucks!! It goes in for that and the exhaust leak that is on the drivers side, middle two exhaust ports.

Dom

[Cheeky]

Where did you find the Zerk fitting?

[Domsz06]

Pull up your floor behind the motor, and get a flashlight. Follow your exhaust, and look in between the two pipes, you will see your rudder through hull conection. It's right there.

Dom

[Cheeky]

How common is it for these steering cables to go out? Mine is a 2001, but only has about 250 hours on it. IT's hard for me to believe it has stiffned up to the point of being dangerous with so few hours, versus friends with other boats and several hundred hours and no replacement.

[Domsz06]

I have no idea. It will be interesting to see what the dealer says when I pick it up on sat or monday whichever day it's done.


Dom

[Beau McCrory]

re the stiff steering, just got my boat back on monday. tige replaced the cable on an 03 with 76 hours. said the cables are bent fairly tight on the 20Vs.... anyway, they knocked $200 off my bill (electric work and new stereo amp), and i'm back on the H2O.

[Domsz06]

yeah, I'm not too happy right now with my dealer. I picked the boat up last thursday, because it had been there nine days, and they still hadn't gotten to it. They said they might be able to get to it next week, but probably not. I said I had a 4th of july trip planned so I had to have the boat. I bought the stupid exhaust manifold gasket, that was bad, and replaced that myself. Then I went and tried to fix the steering, but it is the cable or the rack,not sure. When I called them about the rack they said they don't sell just the cable, the rack and cable is about 150. I'm not gonna foot that bill. I'm gonna go up there again today and see if I can just bring them the whole setup, and they can just give me another one, or what. Needless to say I now have a boat that is still as hell to steer, and I'm NOT HAPPY at all. So if anyone with tige has any ideas, my dealer is H&H in Oklahoma city, or give me a ring on this system, like I said, I'm very pissed at the dealer, I'm being put on hold, since it's a warrenty claim. They told me they could get to it in seven days, and that turned into maybe 21, and that's only if they could get time.

Dom