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Author Topic:   Excessive Play in No Feedback Steering

Gene in NC posted 03-05-2004 01:37 PM ET (US)
New No Feedback steering has almost four inches of play a the standard Montauk SS wheel. Steering locks in position as adverised but requires continuous minding on a straight course because of the play. Is that much play inherent in the design, is there a defect, or did I foul up the installation?
Montauk is '87 with '87 OMC 90. Steer cable length 18'.
Chesapeake posted 03-05-2004 03:13 PM ET (US)
Gene: Installed new NFB steering in a Nauset a few years ago and had no such problem. It was tight both ways at 12 o'clock. Have you checked that all cables are fully and 100%inserted and engaged? That is the only thing which comes to mind. Assume you added a new cable when you installed the unit...
Teleflex tends to be pretty accomodating if there is a problem
frontier posted 03-05-2004 08:32 PM ET (US)
Good question. Gene. Same issue (about 4" of slack) on our 15 Dauntless with Teleflex NFB. Works fine otherwise.
Gene in NC posted 03-09-2004 09:03 PM ET (US)
Should the clutch take effect while the boat is on the trailer. Ours has no cluch holding effect left. Can't recall feeling on the trailer when new but no doubt that on the water the clutch holds the steering line or position until force applied to the wheel to turn.
Gene in NC posted 03-10-2004 07:07 PM ET (US)
Frontier, maybe our units are just worn out. Mine was installed August or September of '01. Very light use because my son who lives in Wilmington with the boat is a surfer with little time for boat and I live 2 1/2 hours away so rarely have a chance to use it (couple of times a season). Doesn't seem very durable.
Teleflex has been unresponsive to two emails to their controlled site and has not returned call from the tech service number that I got from retailer.
frontier posted 03-11-2004 03:49 PM ET (US)
No luck here either, Gene. I just sent my second e-mail to Teleflex.
frontier posted 03-11-2004 05:38 PM ET (US)
Success! Found a very helpful contact at Teleflex. He said they've been having problems with e-mail links on their website. He reported it to Webmaster. He said it was OK to post his name & number on this website for Whaler folks. It is: Jim @ 610-495-7011 Ext. 394.
He said 1-2" of play in no-feedback & regular helms is normal, based on 14" steering wheel (15" & bigger would be more play). Also to check: Support tube greased well? Link arm tight? Any bends or loop in cable?
Joe Kriz posted 03-11-2004 06:07 PM ET (US)
Gene,
You should not be able to move the engine by hand in either direction when pushing on the engine.. You should only be able to move the engine via the Steering Wheel if your NFB is working properly...
Gene in NC posted 03-11-2004 11:30 PM ET (US)
Frontier, good work with Teleflex. Heck, there is at least one bend in every steering cable and a lot in a Montauk. If there is some clearance between cable and housing it's all over.
Joe, you're so right about not moving the engine except by moving the wheel. Walked into the engine in the dark and nearly lost a leg. No amount of force could swing the engine to one side. Wish I had the 17' cable like your rigs instead of the 18'. Suspect 17' has beneficial effect on "play".

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Author	Topic: Excessive Play in No Feedback Steering
Gene in NC	posted 03-05-2004 01:37 PM ET (US) New No Feedback steering has almost four inches of play a the standard Montauk SS wheel. Steering locks in position as adverised but requires continuous minding on a straight course because of the play. Is that much play inherent in the design, is there a defect, or did I foul up the installation? Montauk is '87 with '87 OMC 90. Steer cable length 18'.
Chesapeake	posted 03-05-2004 03:13 PM ET (US) Gene: Installed new NFB steering in a Nauset a few years ago and had no such problem. It was tight both ways at 12 o'clock. Have you checked that all cables are fully and 100%inserted and engaged? That is the only thing which comes to mind. Assume you added a new cable when you installed the unit... Teleflex tends to be pretty accomodating if there is a problem
frontier	posted 03-05-2004 08:32 PM ET (US) Good question. Gene. Same issue (about 4" of slack) on our 15 Dauntless with Teleflex NFB. Works fine otherwise.
Gene in NC	posted 03-09-2004 09:03 PM ET (US) Should the clutch take effect while the boat is on the trailer. Ours has no cluch holding effect left. Can't recall feeling on the trailer when new but no doubt that on the water the clutch holds the steering line or position until force applied to the wheel to turn.
Gene in NC	posted 03-10-2004 07:07 PM ET (US) Frontier, maybe our units are just worn out. Mine was installed August or September of '01. Very light use because my son who lives in Wilmington with the boat is a surfer with little time for boat and I live 2 1/2 hours away so rarely have a chance to use it (couple of times a season). Doesn't seem very durable. Teleflex has been unresponsive to two emails to their controlled site and has not returned call from the tech service number that I got from retailer.
frontier	posted 03-11-2004 03:49 PM ET (US) No luck here either, Gene. I just sent my second e-mail to Teleflex.
frontier	posted 03-11-2004 05:38 PM ET (US) Success! Found a very helpful contact at Teleflex. He said they've been having problems with e-mail links on their website. He reported it to Webmaster. He said it was OK to post his name & number on this website for Whaler folks. It is: Jim @ 610-495-7011 Ext. 394. He said 1-2" of play in no-feedback & regular helms is normal, based on 14" steering wheel (15" & bigger would be more play). Also to check: Support tube greased well? Link arm tight? Any bends or loop in cable?
Joe Kriz	posted 03-11-2004 06:07 PM ET (US) Gene, You should not be able to move the engine by hand in either direction when pushing on the engine.. You should only be able to move the engine via the Steering Wheel if your NFB is working properly...
Gene in NC	posted 03-11-2004 11:30 PM ET (US) Frontier, good work with Teleflex. Heck, there is at least one bend in every steering cable and a lot in a Montauk. If there is some clearance between cable and housing it's all over. Joe, you're so right about not moving the engine except by moving the wheel. Walked into the engine in the dark and nearly lost a leg. No amount of force could swing the engine to one side. Wish I had the 17' cable like your rigs instead of the 18'. Suspect 17' has beneficial effect on "play".