Stiff Steering, Squeeky too!

[Radonic]

I have a brand new 26M 2005, just took delivery 2 weeks ago. I have a Honda 50 on it and a Raymarine Sport Pilot installed aswell.

The steering is so stiff that I have to use both hands to turn it, it squeeks too! The dealer I purchased it says this is normal, but I think he is feeding me a line.

Any experience from anyone out there?

Thanks again. Ed

[hamshog]

Absoutly NOT normal. I have an 04 with a 50 HP motor and it turns extremely easy. Take it back or look at the cable underneath. They have to be jamming someplace. Don't take know for an answer. With the steering that tight you could get in trouble trying to dock.

[hamshog]

PS My engine is a Honda 50 also.

[norbert]

steering must be easy and done with one hand without any effort. stiff steering like you describe it will kill your autopilot! make your dealer replace it immediatly.

[Timm Miller]

The squeek is caused by the autopilot and it adds some tension to the steering but not quite as mush as you describe. I could never get rid of the squeek even after sending it back to Raymarine......they said it was the plates inside. I ended up just taking it off.

[craiglaforce]

Probably too tight of a bend in the steering cable.
Does the motor turn freely with the steering linkage disconnected?
Some motors apparently have a pivot tension adjuster.
Agree that the steering has to be effortless to keep from overloading the autopilot.
My sportpilot autopilot doesn't squeek. It wobbles a bit, but no squeek.

[DLT]

I have a very similar issue and I don't have an autopilot (YET!)...

My steering isn't too tight, such that I need two hands, but it is rather noisy.

At least in my case, where the steering push/pull tube exits the boat, to connect with the motor, it rubs on the fiberglass hull. I've had the issue since the motor was installed. It had even chipped away some of the gel coat.

I temporarily installed a piece of nylon continuous grommet on the fiberglass, around where the tube comes through. That stopped the noise and makes steering smoother. So, I'm going to more permanently install it, with some epoxy...

[flbum]

I have a 2005 26M. The steering on mine isn't that stiff, but it was much stiffer when I got the boat. It was never as stiff as you describe. Note that I don't have an autopilot. It also squeeked. The steering bar rubs the edge of the hole in the fiberglass where it enters the hull from the outside. I applied some Boeshield T9 lubricant to the bar. T9 is a lubricant which leaves a wax coating behind and doesn't gather dirt. Perhaps any lubricant might do the job. The lubricant totally eliminated the squeek and significantly reduced the steering drag. You might try this simple solution to see if it helps. Like I said, my steering was never that stiff. So, you probably have some other issue also.

Hope this helps...

Regards,
Rob
http://smartegy.com

[BK]

As suggested, disconnect the engine to see if that is the problem. I took mine over to the factory as it was very tight and found out that the nut and bolt on the steering linkage rod to the engine was too tight and would not allow it to turn freely.
I just now replaced my cable after 4-5 years as it was getting too tight to deal with. Water gets in after a few years and makes it tight. I found no way to grease it.

[nemo]

My M had stiff steering at first too until I discovered that my boat was one of the few that shipped with a manual steering lock, and it was tightened. I loosened it up and steering of course is much smoother (by design).

picture: http://brownz.com/mystery_knob.JPG

[parrothead]

Spray silicone - 100% - is great stuff. During our maiden voyage last month the mast on our new did not rotate freely and steering squeeked and popped incessantly. Sprayed the mast base washers, the motor rod for the steering where it passes through the fiberglass, and all pivot points on the steering linkage inside the boat. Problems solved!

[Andy26M]

I have a 2004 26M and I also have the squeaky steering linkage bar where it rubs the edge of the hole in the fiberglass. I keep a stick of doornail lube (looks like yellow crayon, leaves a waxy coating that does not wash off in water) on board, and it effectively silences the squeak.

My steering has never been as tight as you describe, and I also have the Honda BF50. In fact, my steering is loose enough that when I tilt my engine up it tends to roll over to port on its own (makes it interesting on a starboard tack if you let go of the wheel while the engine is still attached) ...

I am not positive, but I believe there is supposed to be a tension adjuster on the sterring cylinder inside the pedestal, if you do not have the knob outside on the wheel stem.

- AndyS

[mtc]

In another post, I outlined the steps taken on Yin Yang to tweak her steering linkage. Unfortunately, the assembly - including the Merc installation - was done with quality as an afterthought.

It would be an easy verification to see where the hang-up is occurring. Disconnect the motor as recommended earlier, then the steering cable from the linkage forward of the transom.

I took mine apart, installed nylon washers, longer bolts, and new nuts; installed the bolts threads down, so in the highly unlikely event that the nut fails, the bolt won't fall out and I loose steering control.

Also used some milk carton plastic and shimmed the rudder posts which were way sloppy and hung up each time the wheel was turned as their weight flopped from one side to the other. Then I torqued the bolts snug-but-not-snug where there was only sufficient play to allow easy movement, but no slop.

Oh, the nut on the steering cable wasn't tight from the factory and had about 1/2" of cable play before the cable sheath would stop moving and allow the cable to move the linkage.

Sounds like your problem may be the other extreme of mine too tight. With the linkage just SS tubing, it would be real easy to make too many turns on the bolts and actually flatten the tubing. There were no washers on mine, by the way, and the drag of the burr around the drilled holes in the tubing was hanging-up causing some resistance.

Easy fix with a few bucks from Home Depot (do not buy hardware at West, unless you own West stock!) a few wrenches 9/16 I think, some empty milk cartons, and some scissors, whala!

The difference was dramatic. Now Yins steering is precise and no longer do we S around in the gulf!

Michael

[John Skardzius]

Hi! I had the same issue with my 2001 26X. I screwed up the autopilot before I had the chance to find out that the steering was not supposed to be that way. A costly situation...had I had the resolve that I developed later, I would have confronted the dealer...get them to fix it! As noted in this thread, the steering should be quite free.

Also, I was just talking to a new owner of a MC26M at my Marina...he was staring at my furler...he was setting his up. I asked him about his cotter pins on the turnbuckles.....he said "I had two extra...." we looked, and sure enough, the dealer had delivered the boat with out cotter pins, or anything securing the turnbuckles on the furler...VERY DANGEROUS! Obviously you took delivery of the boat from the same (exclusive) dealer. Please check the turnbuckles on your furler (assume you have one since you bought it "loaded" ASAP. They should have a stopping mechanism (at least cotter pins) to ensure that they don't work free of the furler assembly, sending your mast for a ride towards you or your family/friends.