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Trukinbear

  • Karma: +0/-0
Steering system replacement suggestions
« on: September 10, 2013, 10:45:43 PM »
Recently broke my steering cable and would like to replace my helm also, suggestions? Rack and pinion, rotary, hydraulic, Teleflex JBS with 270 degrees? What is the hot setup for replacement in these 40 year old jet boats?

I really like the sound of the Teleflex JBS's 270 degree arc, but it is designed for lower powered OMC and Mercury Sport Jet.
The current system is way too slow, making me look like I'm trying to evade a submarine wolfpack at no wake speeds.
Not having much feedback and no torque, it shouldn't matter about my HP, right??

1973 18' Cougar with a 6" high dash, port-side steering, and a Berkeley JC.
  • Boat #1: 1973 18' Cougar
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'Keget' - 1973  18' Cougar
L82 350,  Berkeley 12JC - A
Rippin up and down the Klamath River from the mouth to mile 36 - if you see us, wave!

Beaveretriever

  • Karma: +34/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2013, 11:50:16 PM »
Use a rack and pinion set up. The steering is typical with jet boats, sort of. You can alway turn up the idle or add a rudder on the pump.

The Beav

  • Boat #1: 1981 Eliminator Daytona 19' Jet
  • Boat #2: 2003 22' Placecraft Deck boat
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SoCalPSD

  • Karma: +4/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2013, 08:41:52 AM »
X2 on the rack system and low speed steering on a jet kinda sucks period. Your best bet like mentioned is up the idle. Mine is set at about 9-1100 ( don't know if my 40 year old tach is very accurate) and an occasional bump on the throttle to keep it straight.


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In my best "grandad" voice with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth....  "if a day goes by and you learn nothing, I hope like hell you got a lot of sleep".... :thumbup:

GottaJet

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2013, 09:51:45 AM »
Talk to Tom at Jet Boat Performance he will get you all set up.


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ka0tyk

  • Karma: +30/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2013, 10:52:28 AM »
measure your existing cable and get a teleflex rack and pinion replacement with helm.  its not very expensive and it should take like an hour to put in.  If you want to jump up to the next setup, you can get the teleflex NFB setup, which has a little clutch deal in the helm so that if you let go of the wheel it will keep the wheel wherever you left it and it takes less effort to "drive" the boat. 
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Trukinbear

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2013, 11:54:15 AM »
Thanks for the recommendations, nobody likes the JBS system with less than one complete turn lock to lock? The Teleflex rack is 4 turns lock to lock, even slower than what I had which was a little less than 3. My low speed steerage problem isn't related to thrust and I have (er had) a rudder, I run 1400-1600 at no wake speeds - but rather the steering isn't fast enough for me to catch up, ending up in a series of too late over corrections as a zig-zag, especially fighting current going upstream.

Do all of you use such slow steering? 3-4 turns lock to lock?
  • Boat #1: 1973 18' Cougar
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'Keget' - 1973  18' Cougar
L82 350,  Berkeley 12JC - A
Rippin up and down the Klamath River from the mouth to mile 36 - if you see us, wave!

Trukinbear

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2013, 01:25:27 PM »
However, I suppose my cable could have been doing something funky prior to giving up the ghost(?)
  • Boat #1: 1973 18' Cougar
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'Keget' - 1973  18' Cougar
L82 350,  Berkeley 12JC - A
Rippin up and down the Klamath River from the mouth to mile 36 - if you see us, wave!

uncleBOBBY

  • Karma: +2/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2013, 08:05:33 PM »
Rack is the way to go
Oversteer is a easy occurrence on jets
I learned just a slight correction and it keeps me straight even in currant 


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uncleBOBBY

  • Karma: +2/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2013, 08:05:39 PM »
Rack is the way to go
Oversteer is a easy occurrence on jets
I learned just a slight correction and it keeps me straight even in currant 


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Trukinbear

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions no room for rack, it's a rotary
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2013, 06:13:15 PM »
Update: No room under the dash for a rack, appears to be an ancient Morse Command 2 or 290 rotary helm.

Which style rotary is better, the one with the planetary gears, or the one with the clutch? The Teleflex JBS is a rotary also....
« Last Edit: September 12, 2013, 06:25:36 PM by Trukinbear »
  • Boat #1: 1973 18' Cougar
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'Keget' - 1973  18' Cougar
L82 350,  Berkeley 12JC - A
Rippin up and down the Klamath River from the mouth to mile 36 - if you see us, wave!

HardLuck Baker

  • Karma: +2/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2013, 06:27:17 PM »
I updated mine to a rack a couple years ago, mainly because it was old and out of date. I've had no problems with it and I put the grease fitting at the transom cover.


RoB~SoCalJetBoats~
  • Boat #1: 1988 Baker tunnel
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Jet Boat Maloney

  • Karma: +9/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2013, 07:08:10 PM »
I was wondering how much a skag affects slow to medium speeds. My boat seem to either want to whip around or struggle doesn't seem to really be a happy medium.


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ka0tyk

  • Karma: +30/-0
Re: Steering system replacement suggestions
« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2013, 10:11:44 PM »
I have a skag if you need one...
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