Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
skred
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:16 pm

Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby skred » Sat Apr 08, 2017 9:53 am

My 1978 SPORT 15 has what I believe is the original steering mechanism. It functions just fine, but the wheel rattles quite loudly from the slightest vibrations. The wheel has some vertical play. If I lift up on the wheel, it moves more than 1/4-inch. When I put my hands on the wheel, the rattling ceases. When the wheel attachment nut is correctly tightened, the wheel and the shaft still move vertically. Is there any way to tighten to eliminate that vertical movement? Probably Teleflex brand.

jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby jimh » Mon Apr 10, 2017 10:22 am

In c.1978 the stainless steel steering wheel used on a Boston Whaler boats was made by GRANT and typically had six spokes. The attachment of the spokes to the center hub of the steering wheel was accomplished in a manner which could lead to the wheel having some play if one or more of the spokes lost a solid and immoveable connection to the hub.

On smaller boats like a SPORT 15 the steering wheel is also an important hand-hold device for steadying the helmsman, and there may be more than normal forces placed on the wheel and the helm as the helmsman hangs on to the wheel for support while underway. These forces may cause the wheel or the helm to become loose.

porthole
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Location: LSD Lower Slower Delaware

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby porthole » Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:18 pm

More often then not the helm itself has play along with the spokes.
Thanks,
Duane
2016 World Cat 230DC
1999 Outrage 21, Yamaha SW Series II 200
1997 Outrage 18, Yamaha 125
1983 15 SS, Honda 50
1980 42 Post
1983 34 Luhrs 340 SF

flymo
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:58 pm

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby flymo » Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:37 pm

You need to figure out what's loose - that is, what is moving and what is staying still.

The wheel clearly has play. Does the shaft move with it, or stay put? If the shaft moves with the wheel, possibly the whole assembly is loose in the dash.

skred
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:16 pm

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby skred » Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:52 am

Thanks for the responses. As I described, the wheel AND the shaft move up and down together. The spokes are all tight, and the attachment nut is tightened as much as I dare. I have checked the mounting of the assembly to the console and - since I noticed the looseness prior to disassembling the console to refinish it, I reattached the steering gear very securely.

porthole
Posts: 645
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:57 pm
Location: LSD Lower Slower Delaware

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby porthole » Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:44 am

skred wrote:Thanks for the responses. As I described, the wheel AND the shaft move up and down together. The spokes are all tight, and the attachment nut is tightened as much as I dare. I have checked the mounting of the assembly to the console and - since I noticed the looseness prior to disassembling the console to refinish it, I reattached the steering gear very securely.


Every boat I have had, and none of them were new, hydraulic or cable, the helm was loose.
Just cast aluminum housings and seldom any bushings.

Vertical play and some side to side.
Thanks,
Duane
2016 World Cat 230DC
1999 Outrage 21, Yamaha SW Series II 200
1997 Outrage 18, Yamaha 125
1983 15 SS, Honda 50
1980 42 Post
1983 34 Luhrs 340 SF

jimh
Posts: 11673
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
Contact:

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby jimh » Tue Apr 11, 2017 12:07 pm

Don't go to town tightening the shaft retainer nut. To get them loose is already a hard task; you don't want to torque that nut too much.

skred
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:16 pm

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby skred » Tue Apr 11, 2017 3:07 pm

Thanks for the advice. Guess I'll just put up the the rattle....

Mr T
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2017 12:03 pm

Re: Helm or Steering Wheel Has Vertical Play

Postby Mr T » Fri Apr 14, 2017 5:24 pm

If that helm assembly is original or even more than a few years old, consideration of a new helm assembly may be in order- they are usually available for under 150 dollars and easily installed.

With that said, every boat I have ever owned has had mechanical steering and they all have some play inherent to the design.