Steering disconnect

[4jh1zz]

I have searched and read all I could find on steering disconnect and still can not find the answer to my questions. Forgive me if this has been covered and I missed it. On my 2005 26M w/ a Yamaha 50; when I put the steering in the stationary position ( on the bolt coming thru the deck) the motor can not be raised and lowered with out bending or breaking something. Is it supposed to be that way? My setup looks similar to the one posted by "edurbin" in Mac Mods on 2005-06-04.
Thanks for any help
James

[c130king]

James,

Not sure exactly how they come from the factory because I bought mine used. But mine (same year as yours) has a 2-piece "L" bracket contraption to secure the motor to the "bolt" that is on the port side of the motor well just for this purpose.



If you zoom in you can see the bolt. The steering bar coming out of the port side is connected to the motor bracket contraption but you can see the "quick disconnect" pin that is used to disconnect the motor.

When the motor tilts up the two piece L-brackets pivot where they are loosely joined together (the short leg of the "L").

I know that BWY and maybe some other dealers sell a kit to modify the steering brackets to make this work. My boat may have been modified by the original owner.

Good Luck,
Jim

[4jh1zz]

Can you tilt the motor up and down with the "L" bracket/link secured to the bolt on the deck?
Thanks
James

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

This is the BWY custom quick release system for the M



It uses a tie bar with quick release ball and socket ends that require no messing with bolts to take off the steering arm and place on the fixed post.

For comparison, this is the X version that I have on my boat.



In both versions the motor can be raised and lowered when attached to the stationary post.

[4jh1zz]

That looks like that would work. I have been looking on the web but have not found where to buy one yet. Any suggestions?
James in Ga.

[delevi]

http://bwyachts.com
They only take phone orders, but they'll hook you up. I have the system that Duane posted. Love it.

[c130king]

James,

Yes, my two L-brackets allow the motor to tilt up/down when disconnected from the steering bar and connected to the bolt. Just not sure if that is standard from Macgregor or something the original owner designed. If you don't have that and plan to buy a system I would go with the system from BWY (the one in Duane's picture). I may even upgrade mine to that system.

The problem I do have with mine is when disconnected the steering bar still moves back and forth and sometimes the steering bar will "catch" the motor L-brackets and no allow me to turn. I have to lower the motor to free up the steering bar. This happens very rarely but it has happened before.

Whereabouts in GA are you. I was in Valdosta from '04-'07 sailing out of Jacksonville. Been in London since '07 but hopefully moving back to the U.S. this Summer...probably not GA though.

Cheers,
Jim

[4jh1zz]

Thanks Jim. I am just west of Atlanta and will be doing my sailing at Allatoona lake. When you get back to the states maybe you could drop by.

I checked the BWY system. $129 + S&H . I would like to make what I have work, if possible, for a month or two. I am putting it a slip this week and would rather do the change over while not on the water. I think I'll try the old "bend to work, beat to fit and paint to match" method and see if I can get by til I can get the BWY thingy. I have tried to put pictures of what I've got so if anyone has any suggestions or insights; please share. The "L" bracket moves up and down about 2" from the motor up and motor down position when turned to fit over the stationary bolt. The way it is, something would have to bend or brake.

James



http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af3 ... eb-600.gif[/IMG]

[c130king]

Well from what I can see yours looks just like mine...only yours has been bent some...mine has not bent.

And to be perfectly honest when the motor is disconnected and the L-bracket is on the bolt the motor is not perfectly centered. It is turned by 3-5 degrees is my guess. But since when disconnected you are limited to 6 knots due to rudders down it makes no big difference.

I suspect the issue is with the piece of yours that actually is connected to the motor. Does that end of that piece rotate easily?

There are a few other Mac owners on this board from your area.

Jim

[c130king]

You know, now that I think about it (and I get in trouble when I think too much). Is the system actually three pieces? Two longer L-brackets (the ones that can be seen in your photo) and a pretty short one connected to the motor? I can't remember exactly right now and the boat is a long way away.

Jim

[4jh1zz]

My problem seams to be when the motor moves both arms too much when it is tilted. In the down position the linkage is an inch and a half above the bolt in the deck. In the up position it goes on the bolt OK. There is some play in the linkage arms to move up and down but not enough. Maybe I am missing something where the linkage attaches to the motor. What do you think?

[4jh1zz]

I just took the "L" link off and straightened it. When I leave the nut & bolt, that holds the two linkage arms together, very loose (I mean sloppy, rattling loose) the motor will tilt up and down without putting anything in a bind. Maybe if I made a thick rubber washer to put behind the nut at this joint I could get enough play for everything to work without bending anything. I suspect that this joint being snug is how the "L" link got bent in the first place. I'll work on it more tomorrow. If you have any thoughts on a better solution, please let me know.
James

[4jh1zz]

My motor sets at 3-5% angle in the fixed position also

[Hardcrab]

Are the L brackets to long or to short causing the 3-5 degree offset ?
(To long will make the boat turn to port, to short will turn to stbd).

If to short, adding some washers between the L bends will lengthen the assy to null out the 3-5 degree offset.

If to long, then you could drill a new stud hole in the L bracket , ( in effect, making it to short) then bring it back to centered by adding some washers.

That's sorta what I did to mine - two holes in the L bracket. One hole for coupled and a different hole for uncoupled, and fine adjustable with washers.

All in all, like c-130 sez, no big deal.
The twin rudders will make the boat track were you point it.

It reads more complicated than it is.
Good luck.

[Buell_S1W]

James, save up & buy the BWY steering disconnect system. The best thing I ever did was get rid of that sloppy angle bracket piece of junk. The BWY linkage is the best $129 I've spent on my boat so far & the first mod I'd recommend, you won't regret it.
Regards,
David