Steering Wheel Play

[kaylix]

I have some play in my steering wheel, but it is frustrating. Is the control box under the helm serviceable ?

 

[mrcid]

You can tighten up some of the screws in the linkage. Is there too much play in the wheel? (steering wheel moves, but does not move the cable)

 

[dan144k]

I took my yamaha apart and posted about it. Ended up greasing and tightening it up. Not sure of yours is the same.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/steering-box-system-greasing-behing-the-steering-wheel.7765/

 

[kaylix]

There is about 5 degrees of play before the diverter moves. So when I'm cruising I'm constantly moving the wheel to keep tracking in a straight line.

 

[Betik]

@Bruce do you have any magic tricks up your sleeves ?

 

[mrcid]

Sounds like there is excessive play within the gears in the steering box. I had to replace my entire steering box a few years ago because the gears broke. In the new box I got, I still have a little bit of "freeplay" in the steering. Not sure if the steering box I got was top of the line, but the gears on it don't mesh 100%. There's still some play. I took it apart and noticed there is a spring washer behind one of the gears and it wasn't pushing the gear into the other gear hard enough to create a full mesh of the gears. There was some spring play, which causes the "freeplay". Anyhow................ I ended up stacking a flat washer behind the spring washer and I get a little bit better meshing of the gears and not as much "freeplay" in the steering wheel.

Hope this wasn't too confusing.

Personally, I think the ones they use on these SS boats are about as low grade and cheap as they get.

I summary: I believe the sloppiness in the steering comes from the two gears in the steering box just don't mesh up tight enough.

This is the type of system that they use: http://turbojetmarineproducts.com/w...-Flex-Marine-JBS-Jet-boat-steering-system.pdf

(I'm trying to find a diagram of the gearing inside the box, but no luck)

 

[kaylix]

Not confusing, I understand what you're describing.
Every boat I've owned has had this play issue. You'd think they would use really high quality tight parts for a primary system.
It sounds like I can open the box and have a look.

 

[mrcid]

Be careful. Taking the box apart is simple. Putting it back together while it's still mounted can be tricky because of the washers needing to be held in place. I used some lithium grease to hold the washers in place.

 

[kaylix]

@mrcid Where are you located? Have you winterized yet?

 

[mrcid]

I'm a just north of Houston near Lake Houston. Have not winterized, yet. Still got a few weeks of boating/fishing left. Then I'll winterize............. to some degree. We really don't have winters here.