Steering Problem: 1986 Glasstream, 50HP mercury

robertmee · 10-05-08, 06:57 PM

I'm not up to snuff on the older steering assemblies, so could someone please point me in the right direction. I'm getting full steering in one direction, but barely any steering at all in the opposite. There's no adjustment that I see on the wheel it self. It consists of what appears to be a rack/pinion type with a cable that goes to the motor. The cable connects into one end, and a shaft exits the other end. The shaft has a tie-arm that attatches to the center point of the motor. When the shaft goes out I get full steering in that direction. But the shaft won't go all the way in to get steering in the other direction. The shaft is lubricated and I see nothing mechanical restricting it. The steering wheel will actually lock up at this point and it takes a bit of effort to free it back in the other direction. Any hints or at least some links where I could do some research?

I'd say I get about 45 degrees in one direction and 10 degrees in the the other.

Thanks!!

Basscrazie · 10-05-08, 08:08 PM

Take it loose from the motor and sleve and pullit out to make sure your getting full range on the cable it may be sticking in the sleeve(mt,collar,dohicky)you might just need to clean it or a cable..Not much to go wrong there.

zooker · 10-05-08, 08:17 PM

you got rust in the sleeve

zooker

robertmee · 10-05-08, 08:53 PM

Thanks!!.....

Bob Smith · 10-07-08, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooker

you got rust in the sleeve

zooker

Exactly what I was thinking. In my earlier time, I was actually too cheap to replace the cable so I drilled a 3/32 hole on each end of the cable shield. Turned the steering wheel all the way in one direction and squirter rust desolver in it until I couldn't get any more in there. I let it sit for a couple of days then turned the steering wheel in the other direction and did it again. You should've seen all the red stuff that came out of it. Then I bought me a can of Slick 50 and filled the cable shielding up with that, covered both holes with wire ties (zip ties) and used that cable for another five years. It worked so well you could turn that wheel with your pinkie!.

txchargerguy · 10-09-08, 05:23 PM

I am having the same problem on a my '79 charger boat I just bought. Come to find out the motor has an older style of cable attachment and the boat has a normal cable. Normally the cable is supposed to connect to the motor and loop around to the opposite side (from what I gather) but mine just connects to the very front of the motor. I'm still trying to figure it out. I will have to make a bracket or something to hold the cable in place I guess. Do you have any pics of your cable where it enters the motor?

Oh yea, I'm a newbie here!

robertmee · 10-09-08, 09:58 PM

My boat is up at the lake now so no access to new pictures. I found one that remotely shows my steering cable. I'm not sure it is of the same style as yours. It goes into a housing in front of the motor where the hex nut is. This housing is just a long cylinder. A rod emerges from the other end and moves in/out. Attached to this rod is a tie-arm that attaches to the center of the motor. As the rod moves out, it pulls the motor one way. As it moves back in, it pushes it the other way.

1FASTLASER · 10-12-08, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txchargerguy

I am having the same problem on a my '79 charger boat I just bought. Come to find out the motor has an older style of cable attachment and the boat has a normal cable. Normally the cable is supposed to connect to the motor and loop around to the opposite side (from what I gather) but mine just connects to the very front of the motor. I'm still trying to figure it out. I will have to make a bracket or something to hold the cable in place I guess. Do you have any pics of your cable where it enters the motor?

Oh yea, I'm a newbie here!

What u are dealing with is a motor that has no steering tube. Best thing to do is either try and find a chizlert that has it and install on your boat. Finding new parts ...........well they quit making them chizlers SEVERAL years ago.

Bob Smith · 10-20-08, 07:44 AM

1FL, that's what caught my eye too. The amazing thing is that it works at all! Wow! my hat's off to enginuity!

woody · 10-20-08, 08:01 AM

Any tips or suggestions to changing out those steering tubes,
I definitely cant steer mine with my pinky, so to speak.

bamabassman · 10-21-08, 08:38 PM

laser quick thought here. now,now, i know more like a brain fart. but anywho... could you "make" a sleeve outa some tubing? maybe stainless or aluminum? just wondering.

10-05-08, 06:57 PM	#1
robertmee BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 180	Steering Problem: 1986 Glasstream, 50HP mercury I'm not up to snuff on the older steering assemblies, so could someone please point me in the right direction. I'm getting full steering in one direction, but barely any steering at all in the opposite. There's no adjustment that I see on the wheel it self. It consists of what appears to be a rack/pinion type with a cable that goes to the motor. The cable connects into one end, and a shaft exits the other end. The shaft has a tie-arm that attatches to the center point of the motor. When the shaft goes out I get full steering in that direction. But the shaft won't go all the way in to get steering in the other direction. The shaft is lubricated and I see nothing mechanical restricting it. The steering wheel will actually lock up at this point and it takes a bit of effort to free it back in the other direction. Any hints or at least some links where I could do some research? I'd say I get about 45 degrees in one direction and 10 degrees in the the other. Thanks!!

10-05-08, 08:17 PM	#3
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	you got rust in the sleeve zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

10-09-08, 05:23 PM	#6
txchargerguy BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1	Me too! I am having the same problem on a my '79 charger boat I just bought. Come to find out the motor has an older style of cable attachment and the boat has a normal cable. Normally the cable is supposed to connect to the motor and loop around to the opposite side (from what I gather) but mine just connects to the very front of the motor. I'm still trying to figure it out. I will have to make a bracket or something to hold the cable in place I guess. Do you have any pics of your cable where it enters the motor? Oh yea, I'm a newbie here! Last edited by txchargerguy; 10-09-08 at 07:34 PM. Reason: Added pics

10-20-08, 07:44 AM	#9
Bob Smith BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 1,472	1FL, that's what caught my eye too. The amazing thing is that it works at all! Wow! my hat's off to enginuity! __________________ Bob Smith a.k.a. "Porko" (vintage Strike King variety!)

10-05-08, 08:08 PM	#2
Basscrazie BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: magnolia,tx Posts: 398	Take it loose from the motor and sleve and pullit out to make sure your getting full range on the cable it may be sticking in the sleeve(mt,collar,dohicky)you might just need to clean it or a cable..Not much to go wrong there.

10-05-08, 08:53 PM	#4
robertmee BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 180	Thanks!!.....

10-09-08, 09:58 PM	#7
robertmee BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 180	My boat is up at the lake now so no access to new pictures. I found one that remotely shows my steering cable. I'm not sure it is of the same style as yours. It goes into a housing in front of the motor where the hex nut is. This housing is just a long cylinder. A rod emerges from the other end and moves in/out. Attached to this rod is a tie-arm that attaches to the center of the motor. As the rod moves out, it pulls the motor one way. As it moves back in, it pushes it the other way.

10-20-08, 08:01 AM	#10
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	Any tips or suggestions to changing out those steering tubes, I definitely cant steer mine with my pinky, so to speak.

10-21-08, 08:38 PM	#11
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	laser quick thought here. now,now, i know more like a brain fart. but anywho... could you "make" a sleeve outa some tubing? maybe stainless or aluminum? just wondering.

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