How does your 230 series handle?

[bronze_10]

My 230 had that much play until I changed the steering cables last fall. Now it is much much tighter. Don't know if it is the cables or just that I took everything apart and tightened everything down more when putting it back together. I did find where the two steering cables hook together in a brass block that is then bolted to a bracket behibd the wheel had been very loose. It had worn a grove in the bottom side of it. I flipped it over and placed a small washer inbetween the block and the bracket it bolted to. This helped a lot. I can take a pic this afternoon i f u need one.

@Bruce also has a thread where he made bushings to place into the hardware at the point where the cables are attached and said it made it tighten up. The boat comes with plastic bushing that tend to wear down some.

 

[JetPowered]

Geez I’m bad at following up. I replaced the port steering cable this spring due to rust in the inner jacket that was observed when I did a pressure flush with oil. Due to time constraints and good condition of the starboard cable I left it alone. Steering feel was about the same and slop was still present. At this point everything from the cable clamp at the helm back is tight and in would I would call normal tolerances for a jet boat but the steering play forward of the helm gear remains about the same as it did three years ago. Obviously I have become accustomed to it but it is still tiring to drive all day or when the lake is very busy. It’s also very hard to park it in a slip or at the dock. It absolutely SUCKS when it’s windy. I had put up with it until now but now that the boat now has a permanent spot on the boathouse lift ease of work and increased usage necessitates repairs.

A few weeks ago I had taken off the steering wheel and have determined that most of the play is at the coupler between the helm gear input and the wheel assembly. To play it safe I’m ordering a new helm gear as well. I’d rather just start over.

I’m going to order new parts for both the helm gear and wheel assembly.

F2D-U1400-00-00 and F2D-U151A-00-00, Numbers 5 and 10 respectively on the below diagram.

I’ll let you know how it goes. I hope to have it all installed before Labor Day weekend.

 

[96Pirate]

Following as the slop in my wheel is more pronounced now. Looking for a fix as well.

 

[bronze_10]

Following as well

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Didn’t @Bruce resolve this issue with some plastic bushings on the bucket?

 

[96Pirate]

Didn’t @Bruce resolve this issue with some plastic bushings on the bucket?

He did but he also replaced his cables I believe. I plan to look at my bushings this weekend to see if they need replacing. Also will be looking behind the helm again to see if there is an issue there as well.

 

[JetPowered]

Doesn’t hurt the investigate and make sure the bushings are solid, but In this case it’s not a bushing issue. This is very much limited to the helm assembly.

 

[bronze_10]

Doesn’t hurt the investigate and make sure the bushings are solid, but In this case it’s not a bushing issue. This is very much limited to the helm assembly.

I believe the majority of my slack is in the steering assembly as well.. I can turn the wheel a bunch before the arm the cables attach to ever moves.

 

[sethman919]

I believe the majority of my slack is in the steering assembly as well.. I can turn the wheel a bunch before the arm the cables attach to ever moves.

Same here. Plan to take the helm apart one of these days and see if I can fix it.

 

[96Pirate]

I took a look yesterday and bushings seem to be fine, but i didnt take anything apart. Didnt seem to be that much play in the rear to me except for a little bit of play in the starboard cable. Behind the helm...that is where there is play. Definitely seems to be in the steering box somewhere. Not sure if thats my only issue but it certainly seems like something is a miss there. Might do as @sethman919 says and take it apart this winter. Wondering if there are an gears worn out. The issue is the parts are pricey so hopefully it can be fixed by other means.

 

[TOGA]

Yup.....this is the nature of a jet boat with no skeg in the water. You can spin the thing on a dime and carve some amazing turns because of thrust directional turning, but the same plus is a minus. Now the 24' boats with the new keel and rudder (they call it an articulating keel") have changed this significantly....they is no longer any wiggling when cutting through wakes, and tracking is hugely improved. But there is also a little less "Jet boat feel"....she doesn't spin on a dime like the older boats....but still great turning....just not awesome.

I agree with the above statement. Coming from typical stern drives, the "surfing" feel took some getting used to, but it isn't unmanageable.

I don't correct for every response the boat may have to a wake or wave. If they are minor, the boat surfs it out and then returns to course.

Wind doesn't bother my boat either.

One thing I have noticed is that having the engines in perfect sync can cause the boat to pull to one direction. I adjust throttle to track straight so long as they are within a few 100 rpm's of each other to correct and maintain a light and responsive wheel.

 

[bronze_10]

I agree with the above statement. Coming from typical stern drives, the "surfing" feel took some getting used to, but it isn't unmanageable.

I don't correct for every response the boat may have to a wake or wave. If they are minor, the boat surfs it out and then returns to course.

Wind doesn't bother my boat either.

One thing I have noticed is that having the engines in perfect sync can cause the boat to pull to one direction. I adjust throttle to track straight so long as they are within a few 100 rpm's of each other to correct and maintain a light and responsive wheel.

Yes but I love the sound when they harmonize!

 

[JetPowered]

So I think I am FINALLY ready to deal with the loose steering. I did do some tightening of the steering shaft bolts that hold the tilt steering shaft to the main steering shaft. That cleaned up a bit of play. Found a few loose bolts in the helm area, that cleaned up a little more. However still slop in the tilt gear AND the main gear. I'm going to replace the main gear. Clearly I've dealt with it over the years, but as the wake boat traffic increases on my lake and the water gets more and more choppy, constant steering input is getting tiring.

SOOO, I'm Trying to find a good cross reference to a non dealer gear. Does anyone have access to their 2007-2009 boat to look at the main help gear and pull a part number? As i said before, the main gear PN from Yamaha is F2D-U151A-00-00. PartsPak has them right now to $229 with $26 in shipping. Not too bad but trying to get it down a little bit more.

 

[JetPowered]

In some deep diving today, I found this possible option:

http://www.seastarsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ms16-Jet-boat-mini-rack.pdf

 

[Scottintexas]

In about 4 hours I'll be at my boat but need specific instructions of what your looking for

 

[dgfreeze]

In some seeping diving today, I found this possible option:

http://www.seastarsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ms16-Jet-boat-mini-rack.pdf

Dude, if that system works, I’m very interested to know how it performs. I’ve got a little bit of play in my steering also (not as much as yours), and would love to know how tight that is, and whether it is easier to steer when cruising. My wife has to use both hands to steer when cruising, and I’ve got new cables.

 

[JetPowered]

Any kind of identifying marks that look like a part number. It's been years since I pulled me helm gear and don't remember if there were other numbers printed on it

 

[Hogger Dick]

I’m interested as well...lots of slop