steering wheel alignment

[Birdman]

my steering wheel is out of alignment (or my rudder) is there i way to correct this?

[MLA]

In what way? wheel not straight when boat going straight? Is this at idle or on plane? Most likely you will get one or the other but not both. Boats dont track like a car. Move one person and the boat tracks different, requiring different steering input. As long as the wheel moves equal number of turns all the way port all the STBD from a centered rudder, you might be chasing a rainbow colored unicorn in getting a straight wheel.

[Birdman]

i secured the sub around the little steering cylinder under the dash that caused the problem i think but while wide open throttle across the lake have to hold the wheel 90* to the left and it just happened this year

[MLA]

SO some portion of the woofer's weight is supported by the pinion portion of the steering cable? Could be possible that this caused the rack to jump a tooth or two on the pinion. Center the rudder and count the turns stop to stop. Should be the same. But as noted, the steering input at idle can be different then on plan.

[Birdman]

yeah i think it jumped a tooth can a guy just crack that open and move it back?

[MLA]

Just, its much same as replacing the cable/rack assembly. Usually 4 bolts loosen up the rack from the pinion. center the rudder, separate the rack, center the wheel, reengage the rack to the pinion.

Lastly, re-secure the woofer in another fashion.

[Birdman]

k thanks and yeah i have to get some l brackets like under the seats to screw it to the floor

[Birdman]

soo... the bar that goes back to the rudder behind the engine is loose any one know if there is a way to adjust?

[MLA]

The tiller arm to rudder? The tiller is often keyed to the rudder and use a pinch bolt to secure it.

[Birdman]

its the arm that comes down beside the engine and hooks to the rudder it is flopping around in there

[Birdman]

its still attached just loose

[DOCDRS]

There has to be some play to allow for the lateral movement due to the arc the rudder arm makes. As long as there is no bow to stern play

[MLA]

What part is loose?

26439

[Birdman]

the bar that attaches to that mla

[MLA]

Ok, the actual steering cable where it attaches to the tiller arm. There has to be movement at that joint, but not flopping loose.

[Birdman]

is the cable incased in something?

[MLA]

The cable has an outer jacket that anchored at the rudder end and then the black rectangle metal housing bolted to the steering column. The cable inside is then allowed to move inside the jacket in and out as the pinion gears on the steering shaft mesh with the rack gears on the helm end of the cable. The rudder end of the cable jacket also needs to pivot as the angle changes as the tiller arm swings.

[Birdman]

should that just flop around in the hull?

[Birdman]

ok i just went back and read the posts any idea what may be wrong with mine that its flopping around in there and my steering wheel has to be turned to keep the rudder straight?

[Birdman]

haha so if im understanding right the only real part that can move is that pice that attaches to the top of the rudder is that a set screw of some sort there also?