Which steering replacement is best option

[tompolak]

I wanted to branch this off of the other steering cable topic. Late last year my steering was getting hard to turn and I want to replace it before the beginning of this season.
From my research I have two options. 1: Uflex Racktech, Universal Rack And Pinion Steering System ( http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=157054F ), 2: Uflex Rotech, Universal Rotary Steering System ( http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=157040F ).
Both systems are about the same in price. I know with the rack and pinion system I have to watch out because it is a little longer than the stock steering.

My question is will the Rotary system work? I like it because it is a planetary system with 3 points of contact instead of one point. What modifications will I have to do to the console in order to get this to work? Anyone have any experience with this? Am I better off going with the rack and pinion system? Any experience with this or advice would be great. I have a 2001 X.

On edit: I did not see that this question was asked in the other topic already. Anyone have any expericne with this on a later model X?

[restless]

Hydraulic is the best!!!

my write up on it is here http://www.ironengineer.com/mac/galley/ (scroll down past the messy bit)

It does cost a bit more, but if you've had some steering failures in strong wind you'll not regret it! Thoses teleflex monkey metal castings are flaky as Honk Kong chrome. They fail alot on macs. They're for motor boats without rudders!

[R Rae]

Hydraulic is the best!!!

my write up on it is here http://www.ironengineer.com/mac/galley/ (scroll down past the messy bit)

It does cost a bit more, but if you've had some steering failures in strong wind you'll not regret it! Thoses teleflex monkey metal castings are flaky as Honk Kong chrome. They fail alot on macs. They're for motor boats without rudders!

You have been a busy fellow now, haven't you !

Nice work , and when I have figured out the shot with 'nylon tubing plus other tubes with fittings on the end I'll try contacting you

Cheers............r

[R Rae]

Hydraulic is the best!!!

my write up on it is here http://www.ironengineer.com/mac/galley/ (scroll down past the messy bit)

It does cost a bit more, but if you've had some steering failures in strong wind you'll not regret it! Thoses teleflex monkey metal castings are flaky as Honk Kong chrome. They fail alot on macs. They're for motor boats without rudders!

You have been a busy fellow now, haven't you !

Nice work , and when I have figured out the shot with 'nylon tubing plus other tubes with fittings on the end I'll try contacting you

Cheers............r

[mgalbreath]

I just inherited a 1996 Mac 26X from my late father-in-law and the steering system is shot. When I turn the wheel, the rudders nor motor do not move and clicking sounds come from the pedestal, like something inside is slipping or is stripped. The steering began this slip-clicking in moderate seas several years ago and just got worse. I cannot find any information on repairing/replacing the unit anywhere.

My hope is someone here can help.

Mark

[AlaskaMan]

I recommend you contact Blue Water Yachts (http://www.bwyachts.com) and talk to them. I have a 2002 26X and replaced the original system over the winter. Pretty simple job. My new steering is smooth and oh so easy, matter of fact my buddy who owns a 03 26M tells me it's better than his.

[mgalbreath]

I recommend you contact Blue Water Yachts (http://www.bwyachts.com) and talk to them. I have a 2002 26X and replaced the original system over the winter. Pretty simple job. My new steering is smooth and oh so easy, matter of fact my buddy who owns a 03 26M tells me it's better than his.

Did you do the work yourself? If so, what was the level of effort/knowledge involved? I'm a good sailor and am pretty handy with tools, but know next to nothing about boat internals. How much did the replacement cost?

Grateful for the info!

Mark

[Laika 26X]

Ahoy Restless......

Went to the Hydrive Website to check it out and possibly get a quote.
Got any P/N(s) for that specific Admiral Hydrive system? Was it purchased as individual components, or do they have a complete P/N for the "wholeshebang" that includes soup to nuts that you installed? I see there must be adaptor from the ram out. Does it use the original cable cut short, or is one provided?
How’s the feedback?
This along with radar will complete the major mod list for now.
Though not as Mod busy as you, I‘ve been hard at work myself completing the list http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =8&t=14534I posted last fall. Hope to finish documenting and then start posting soon.

“Sub” Ed
S/V LAIKA

[c130king]

I recommend you contact Blue Water Yachts (http://www.bwyachts.com) and talk to them. I have a 2002 26X and replaced the original system over the winter. Pretty simple job. My new steering is smooth and oh so easy, matter of fact my buddy who owns a 03 26M tells me it's better than his.

Did you do the work yourself? If so, what was the level of effort/knowledge involved? I'm a good sailor and am pretty handy with tools, but know next to nothing about boat internals. How much did the replacement cost?

Grateful for the info!

Mark

Mark,

Several threads on replacing steering system. You can do a search...link at the top right corner of this page. Seems to be a fairly common problem unfortunately. It happened to me back in 2007. Check out this thread: Steering Broke.

I got a new Teleflex Rack & Pinion for my for about $170 with 2-day shipping. I was fairly new to the boat and have very limited mechanical skills and I got it done. Sounds like you will not have much problem.

Others can chime in on the appropriate system (and options) for your .

Take your old one out and you will see that it is not that difficult.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[mgalbreath]

Thanks, Jim! Your steering link opened up a web of other links as well, and I now have the confidence to switch out the original steering unit with a new one.

Mark

[bradhill]

I just inherited a 1996 Mac 26X from my late father-in-law and the steering system is shot. When I turn the wheel, the rudders nor motor do not move and clicking sounds come from the pedestal, like something inside is slipping or is stripped. The steering began this slip-clicking in moderate seas several years ago and just got worse. I cannot find any information on repairing/replacing the unit anywhere.

My hope is someone here can help.

Mark

I had to replace the steering on my '96 a couple of years ago (rotary system). One mistake I made was to try to muscle the steering wheel off of the spindle after removing the large nut compressing it to the shaft. I cracked /broke the fiberglass of the pedestal on the three mounting points.

Harbor Freight has a cheap wheel puller you can grind to fit the clearances needed to pull the wheel very easily.

I bought a Uflex no-feedback system and have been very happy with it. Installation was a breeze, once I repaired the fiberglass and re-gelcoated broken area.

Brad Hill

[Trouts Dream]

Love the no feedback system. I can feel the load on the rudders when I turn the wheel but when I let go it locks. sweet.

[c130king]

I had to replace the steering on my '96 a couple of years ago (rotary system). One mistake I made was to try to muscle the steering wheel off of the spindle after removing the large nut compressing it to the shaft. I cracked /broke the fiberglass of the pedestal on the three mounting points.

Harbor Freight has a cheap wheel puller you can grind to fit the clearances needed to pull the wheel very easily.

I bought a Uflex no-feedback system and have been very happy with it. Installation was a breeze, once I repaired the fiberglass and re-gelcoated broken area.

Brad Hill

As Brad said, the hardest part for me was removing the steering wheel. I bought a "cheap wheel puller" from AutoZone...stripped the threads...completely useless. Took a lot of pulling, tapping, spraying with WD-40. Fortunately I didn't break anything.

By the way, don't loose that little half moon key that mates the steering wheel with the steering shaft.

Good Luck,
Jim

[hart]

I just inherited a 1996 Mac 26X from my late father-in-law and the steering system is shot. When I turn the wheel, the rudders nor motor do not move and clicking sounds come from the pedestal, like something inside is slipping or is stripped. The steering began this slip-clicking in moderate seas several years ago and just got worse. I cannot find any information on repairing/replacing the unit anywhere.

My hope is someone here can help.

Mark

You can also talk to reputable marine mechanics in your area. When my steering failed last year I had a back injury and just couldn't do it myself. My mechanic installed a new one for me. Seems like labor was the killer though, $300, or something like that plus the $175 for parts.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

The single hardest part of replacing the rack and pinion is that you have to move the shaft hole down about one inch and enlarge it. Get a small piece of wood and attach it to the inside of the pedestal so you have something for the pilot hole and it's a snap to drill.

I ordered the 8 foot teleflex from Surplus Unlimited. It was amazingly easy from to install.
http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Teleflex ... Mount.html
By the way, that rubber boot on the transom is only available from Bluewater Yachts. It's part number 5705-1X0and it's $10.