SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: glencoe460 on February 28, 2016, 10:11:03 PM

Title: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 28, 2016, 10:11:03 PM
Went out today and noticed after a couple runs my steering was not responsive and couldn't turn left. Turns right just fine any suggestions please!!!!
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: GT Jets on February 28, 2016, 10:55:59 PM
Meaning the wheel is difficult to turn to the left, or won't turn with the wheel turned?

Two different issues.

GT
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 28, 2016, 11:49:09 PM
The wheel seems to stop once pump is centered wheel is easy to steer
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: GT Jets on February 28, 2016, 11:54:36 PM
The wheel seems to stop once pump is centered wheel is easy to steer

Bizarre.

A few things to check.

If it just started doing it out of the blue,  I suspect a worn rack or cable.

Otherwise the system was improperly installed and never centered correctly.

Would go through the whole enchilada starting with the nozzle itself and working forward.
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 28, 2016, 11:56:57 PM
Will do... first time this ever happened I was going about 50 and noticed I couldn't straight en her out and just completely spun out
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 28, 2016, 11:57:48 PM
Last week my shift cable snapped now this week it's steering. . Smh lol
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: Outlawmayhem on February 29, 2016, 12:11:01 AM
Last week my shift cable snapped now this week it's steering. . Smh lol

I replaced my steering cable when I bought my boat last year.  It was frozen solid.  While taking out the steering cable I broke the throttle cable.  Then half of the cable was seized on the floor pedal.  I'm replacing my shift cable soon too it's getting a little stiff.  If I did it again I would replace em all at once.
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: JordanDangerfield on February 29, 2016, 01:45:30 AM

Last week my shift cable snapped now this week it's steering. . Smh lol

Maybe it's a sign you should replace the throttle and diverter cable while you're at it...Better safe than sorry and cables are cheap.  Maintenance is paramount on these old boats.  Honestly, I get a little nervous every time I go out because I know how many different ways my boat can sink.


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Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: Outlawmayhem on February 29, 2016, 02:07:46 AM
Maybe it's a sign you should replace the throttle and diverter cable while you're at it...Better safe than sorry and cables are cheap.  Maintenance is paramount on these old boats.  Honestly, I get a little nervous every time I go out because I know how many different ways my boat can sink.


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Yeah same here. I need to seal my jet  alot better when I swap units.  I have a Leak but takes hours before the bilge pump needs to come on. I was a bit nervous running my dry headers today.  Just had rubber caps with some screw clamps covering the thru transom exhaust tips from the outside.  Held up good.  Definitely not a permanent solution
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: SoCalPSD on February 29, 2016, 07:33:08 AM
I had the same problem happen to me, luckly i was in the no wake zone at a lake. Cable housing had started to seperate and the cable itself had 3 frays in it and was binding up. Turned fine both ways before i launched and as soon as i fired it up i cranked it to the left and started backing out and went to straighten it out and it stopped in the straight position and thats as far as it would go.
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 29, 2016, 09:34:49 AM
I had the same problem happen to me, luckly i was in the no wake zone at a lake. Cable housing had started to seperate and the cable itself had 3 frays in it and was binding up. Turned fine both ways before i launched and as soon as i fired it up i cranked it to the left and started backing out and went to straighten it out and it stopped in the straight position and thats as far as it would go.
it's not fun cable going bad at 50mph scared the shit out of me spinning out that fast... Changing the cable fixed your issue?
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: JordanDangerfield on February 29, 2016, 09:46:32 AM

it's not fun cable going bad at 50mph scared the shit out of me spinning out that fast... Changing the cable fixed your issue?

Change out your steering to a new rack or rotary steering system for the $140, it's worth it. There's no other way around it.


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Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: SoCalPSD on February 29, 2016, 09:57:04 AM
it's not fun cable going bad at 50mph scared the shit out of me spinning out that fast... Changing the cable fixed your issue?

In my case yes. Count your turns from full lock to where it stops, disconnect your cable at the nozzle and make sure the nozzle turns freely both ways then count your turns again at the wheel. If no change then your cables probably bad. Make sure the tube going through your transom didnt come loose and come out of adjustment either. But more than likely its the cable.
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 29, 2016, 09:59:24 AM
Change out your steering to a new rack or rotary steering system for the $140, it's worth it. There's no other way around it.


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thanks I'm gonna look into that where would u recommend getting that steering system from?
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 29, 2016, 10:00:26 AM
In my case yes. Count your turns from full lock to where it stops, disconnect your cable at the nozzle and make sure the nozzle turns freely both ways then count your turns again at the wheel. If no change then your cables probably bad. Make sure the tube going through your transom didnt come loose and come out of adjustment either. But more than likely its the cable.
thanks I'll get to it... want to get it right for next weekend
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: SoCalPSD on February 29, 2016, 10:01:44 AM
Yah good idea. Might want to replace all the old cables as well, ive had my throttle cable break and stick, thats no fun, after that my fwd/rev cable broke and that really sucked so better to be safe rhan sorry.
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: glencoe460 on February 29, 2016, 10:06:38 AM
Is it necessary to remove steering wheel/colum to change the cable?
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: SoCalPSD on February 29, 2016, 10:15:10 AM
Is it necessary to remove steering wheel/colum to change the cable?
yup
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: Outlawmayhem on February 29, 2016, 11:11:19 AM
Is it necessary to remove steering wheel/colum to change the cable?

Yeah everything that the steering wheel mounts to gets pulled out. It's pretty easy to do tho.  I bought mine at West marine in long Beach. 
Title: Re: Can't steer to the left
Post by: JordanDangerfield on February 29, 2016, 12:12:38 PM

thanks I'm gonna look into that where would u recommend getting that steering system from?

http://www.cpperformance.com/p-13239-jet-boat-cable-kit.aspx

For my last boat I bought this cable kit from CP.

If you want to buy them in person I'd give Tim @ Place Diverter a call. Great dude and very knowledgable. Eddie Marine should stock all these cables as well.

Only reason I'm harping on replacing the cables is because I know too many people that have had failures.


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