Steering gone bad

[BAMBAM]

Hey - thanks for all the help over the years! I have a 2004 AR230 that has treated our family very well for well over 10 years. Recently, my teenage son was out with his buddies and came back to the dock and said "the boat won't turn right." I've had a similar issue a few years back where one of the steering cables came loose, (end nut came off one cable under the helm) and only one cable was working when turning the steering wheel. However, after getting it back home, that was not the issue. The alignment is so far off center now. With the steering wheel centered the nozzles are a good 20* to the left. When the wheel is full turn to right the nozzles are 5-10* to the right. I've never replaced the cables but I'm wondering if there could be an issue in the steering gear or something at the helm out of adjustment. I thinking my son tried to muscle through a turn and somehow slide the cables through the transom or something along those lines. However, I haven't found any thread that would point to such a issue. Any advice from the group would be greatly appreciated so I don't just start throwing parts at the problem.

 

[yam240sx]

did you try greasing the cables ? maybe theres a bend somewhere now

 

[BAMBAM]

I’m planning to try that next. I’m sure new cables wouldn’t hurt but don’t want to wait if there is an adjustment to be made. I tried to adjust the nozzle alignment with the wheel centered but that didn’t help much if at all. When the wheel was centered and the steering yoke at the nozzle fully threaded in on the cable toward the bow end of the threads the nozzles were still both position at 5-10* left. I’m still thinking somehow the cables slide through an adjustment at the helm or transom for it to have changed that much in a 30 minute outting. I checked at the helm where the two cables are sandwich clamped onto threads where they attach to the steering gear arm but they were positioned nicely right on the threads. Thanks for the input!

 

[KnucklDragr]

Did you ever figure out the problem? Just curious because the same thing has happened to me on my new 252se. I will eventually take it in to be fixed under warranty but I’m going to use it through the season because it’s more annoying than anything. Seems like the gears are stripped or the steering wheel is off track somehow. Only to the right tho.

 

[anmut]

Did you ever figure out the problem? Just curious because the same thing has happened to me on my new 252se. I will eventually take it in to be fixed under warranty but I’m going to use it through the season because it’s more annoying than anything. Seems like the gears are stripped or the steering wheel is off track somehow. Only to the right tho.

Did you check the linkage in the back to make sure all the bolts are connected? Can you move the router from the back of the boat right or left?

 

[KnucklDragr]

Yep. Linkage is good. Even removed the cable assembly at the helm to see if there was a problem with the cables. Once removed I was able to turn the keel back and forth in the back and it was smooth. I think the gears at the end of the steering wheel are slipping when there is tension put on them.

 

[KnucklDragr]

Just to clarify when the cables are attached to the steering wheel keel does not move smoothly and gets stuck when all the way to the right.

 

[anmut]

Yep. Linkage is good. Even removed the cable assembly at the helm to see if there was a problem with the cables. Once removed I was able to turn the keel back and forth in the back and it was smooth. I think the gears at the end of the steering wheel are slipping when there is tension put on them.

You could check the cables behind the helm and then possibly Pull up the cover over the gas tank and see if anything is kinked weird. But probably best if you can get into the dealership

 

[anmut]

Just to clarify when the cables are attached to the steering wheel keel does not move smoothly and gets stuck when all the way to the right.

Can you post a video?

 

[BAMBAM]

Since our season is short I did a temp fix and made a bracket that allowed both cables to be extended then adjusted the linkage at the rear gates. It helped but lost 5 degrees of gate travel but at least they were centered and even. Since then I order 2 new steering cables as it’s an older boat and essentially needed to invest there also. I’ll keep you posted if that solves the problem. Mines not catching or sticking in the steering at the helm as you’re describing. That will be the next piece for me to dive into if the cables don’t solve the problem.

 

[tdonoughue]

Not sure if you have checked this from a quick read above, but consider that one cable may be broken inside. That will let it smoothly move one direction (when the break is compressed), but when you move the other direction (when the break is under expansion), it won't do that. We have seen things like that where the jet will move one direction and not the other...

 

[KnucklDragr]

Interesting. I hadn’t thought the cables were to blame, but maybe. What’s strange is that after a day of fighting it on the water, the steering wheel is no longer centered. It has definitely moved which to me would indicate it jumping a gear or two. I’m going out tomorrow and will try to take some video of the issue.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Also check the bolts holding the 2 halves of the sheeting gear box together are tight to check the cables grab one nozzle at a time and move it left and right if it moves to the left but the wheel and other nozzle won't move then you know that cable is broken. A good system will me able to be moved to either direction with one hand and move both nozzles and the steering wheel at the same time.