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trickyblue
75 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Apr 2019 : 22:16:58
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Hi
I hope someone can help me with my problem...last job on my renovation today and I fitted the outboard, when I used it on my dory the steering cable went through the tilt tube and had a drag link and worked fine, with full lock in either direction.
Here's my problem, to use on my Norman the existing cable needs to attach to a plate on the outboard handle. I fabricated a plate and drilled it, fitted it to the handle and then attached the cable. I can only get partial steering in each direction! There isn't enough travel in the cable to achieve full lock. The cable isn't seized, runs freely, just not enough travel. Does anyone have any ideas please? This is really puzzling me. |
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trevork
3949 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2019 : 23:30:34
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| I think this is a Dave/Clive/Ian thing, lets see what they say. |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2019 : 23:34:53
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I hope it's someone's thing!
Am so frustrated by it, short of completely replacing the steering system I am out of ideas, have looked at all the other posts regarding steering issues. |
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stratford4528
United Kingdom
414 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 07:57:06
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| You need to be connected as near to the pivot point of the engine as possible. Or you could make a relay lever if you have room. IE a bar with 3 holes One hole the bar pivots on The next hole your cable fits to, the outer hole is connected with a rod to the motor. |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 08:08:44
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Also be aware that to tilt the motor you will probably need to remove the steering cable each time, this is what the drag link gets around, otherwise as said the bracket needs to be as short as possible so the link is close to the vertical pivot, the further away the connection the less steering you get, on the plus side it gets lighter to steer (but crap in tight spaces).
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
 Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 08:36:59
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Thanks for the replies. Sorry, not sure what is meant by pivot point?
The old motor that was on when I got the boat had the standard Honda steering plate fitted and then the cable was attached by a cylinder with nylon bushes. I don't know if that set up achieved full lock though. |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 09:00:37
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The pivot in question is the vertical pin the engine rotates around when steered, the clamp sits on the transom with a horizontal pivot for tilting the engine which is attached to the vertical pivot for steering the engine which is attached to the engine itself.
The drag link setup is so when you tilt the motor out of the water the cable position stays the same, with a direct cable connection the cable wants to angle steeply in it's mount when tilted.
Disconnect cable and see how much travel it has lock to lock, then work out the position needed for the connection to give the same distance lock to lock and re-drill your bracket.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 09:07:26
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| Thanks for that, am off to the boat in next half hour and will try that. The cable is fitted through what looks like quite a heavy duty splash well mount at the moment, I think there is scope to pull the tube further out or push further in and then retighten the clamp mechanism. So am I right in thinking that the cable may end up being attached nearer to the side of the handle plate than the middle in order to achieve maximum steering then? |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 09:15:28
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No, that will just offset limited steering, to get full range the cable needs to be attached closer to the motor itself so the cable travel gives a greater angle.
It can be offset but the key is getting closer to that pivot.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 09:25:16
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| Ok thanks, it's never going to work then, there simply isn't enough travel in the cable to push the motor to one side or pull it to the other. The cable when fully retracted inside the sleeve is lined up with the middle of the steering plate so cant pull the outboard any further in that direction. |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 10:15:00
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Move the cable mount on the transom so the middle of it's travel is in the middle of the transom area to get it all centred then attach as close to the steering pivot for maximum steering lock, if you get most it should be enough, I don't think my old norman 25 ever gave full stop to stop but it was close enough to not worry about.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 13:48:59
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Thanks guys.
I managed to achieve almost full lock in both directions by simply attaching the cable end into a stainless block and then pivot bolting the block on the top of the steering handle.
In actual fact I have also discovered that the steering cable is almost snapped against the nut that fastens to the splash well tube mount.
Looking at the steering helm behind the wheel it appears to be an old rack type of steering rather than the common rotary type. There is a long galvanised "tube" and the cable is attached to this, does that sound right? No experience of this type of set up. If so is the cable an easy replacement or am I better off junking it and going for a new rotary helm?
I did say when I first joined this forum I would have lots of questions! lol |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2019 : 15:34:13
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The benefit of the old rack type is that they don't take up so much space but I don't think you can get them any more, it's best to replace helm and cable together as one wears the other out.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2019 : 22:42:26
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Well I got stuck into removing the old steering system today, off with the ancient rack and pinion system, easier to cut the old cable off in sections than wrestle with pulling it through intact.
In retrospect whilst having to replace the steering better to find out now rather than have it fail whilst out on the river, here is a pic of the snapping cable.
When the new helm and cable arrive I intend to try and use the steering tube and drag link system as this worked really well on my Dory. I will have to cut an exit point in the splash well for the steering cable in line with the steering tube and also cut a slot into the opposite side of the well for the steering cable end and drag link to move into on opposite lock. Looks doable-just!
The steering on the Dory was starboard oriented and my Norman is port, so I know I will have to swap the lock nut and the cap to opposite sides of the steering tube. Other than that what do you guys think about this idea? |
Edited by - trickyblue on 20 Apr 2019 00:05:28 |
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trickyblue
75 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2019 : 07:58:35
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Thinking about my idea in the previous post I guess if I install the way I mentioned it will mean my steering is opposite to the way it should be  |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2019 : 08:34:07
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You can run a rotary helm gear either way, just thread the cable into the other hole.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Topic |
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Steering help please!
