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Author Topic:   Evinrude steering

skred posted 08-25-2013 12:58 PM ET (US)
The steering on my 1974 Evinrude 50 is quite loose. There is normal play in the Teleflex (not a NFB type) system. I cannot find a steering tension adjustment on this motor, and there is none apparent on the Teleflex unit. The steering is loose enough that if the wheel is not being held, the torque will move the motor immediately to one side. I have the Evinrude shop manual, but cannot find any reference to a tension adjustment for steering. Any ideas?

contender posted 08-25-2013 03:47 PM ET (US)
I think are going to have to keep your hands on the wheel, I would check the bolt/nut that connects the steering arm (nut should be in front of the lower unit, its the bottom of the steering are) other than this I can not think of anything unless there is s friction screw/bolt on the steering assembly...good luck
pcrussell50 posted 08-25-2013 03:52 PM ET (US)
The performance boaters are partial to dual-cable steering, where one is "tight" against the other to reduce play. Play is not good when most of the boat is out of the water and you have to balance it on a thin bit of keel with your steering inputs. Not the problem with Whalers, I realize, but a point of reference.
-Peter
pcrussell50 posted 08-25-2013 03:56 PM ET (US)
Also, possible broken motor mount? The stock ones are rubber and if it torn or partially torn, could add to extra play. This is another area where the performance boaters eliminate play... they switch to solid mounts. Not saying you should, for a Whaler but...
Also the "ProXS" line of Mercury Optimax outboards apparently use "harder" rubber mounts than regular Optimax motors, to decrease play and increase sensitivity and feel.
-Peter
Tom W Clark posted 08-26-2013 10:20 AM ET (US)
The play is probably due to the steering system being old and worn.
The steering wheel turning when you let go of the wheel is due to the system not being a non-feedback type (NFB) but also because there is a lot of steering torque you have not adjusted for. Try moving the trailing edge of your motor's trim to to starboard.
Since you probably need a new system anyway, you can choose to buy a NFB system or not as well as how responsive a system you need, 3 turns, 4.2 turns or 5 turns lock-to-lock are all available in Teleflex mechanical systems. As a complete package, they are very inexpensive as well, as low as $100.
There is no steering tension adjustment on a 1974 OMC remote steered 50 HP outboard.
skred posted 08-26-2013 06:13 PM ET (US)
Thanks, Tom for a concise response. I suspected there was no friction adjustment - but was hoping there might be. The trim fin on the AV plate is pretty much set correctly: I've had several NFB systems on various boats, and they're much better. Never had a non-NFB Teleflex that was this loose. I can spin the wheel by simply grabbing the motor and moving it from port to stbd by hand with no effort. I will try adjusting the fin to neutralize torque steer...

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Author	Topic: Evinrude steering
skred	posted 08-25-2013 12:58 PM ET (US) The steering on my 1974 Evinrude 50 is quite loose. There is normal play in the Teleflex (not a NFB type) system. I cannot find a steering tension adjustment on this motor, and there is none apparent on the Teleflex unit. The steering is loose enough that if the wheel is not being held, the torque will move the motor immediately to one side. I have the Evinrude shop manual, but cannot find any reference to a tension adjustment for steering. Any ideas?
contender	posted 08-25-2013 03:47 PM ET (US) I think are going to have to keep your hands on the wheel, I would check the bolt/nut that connects the steering arm (nut should be in front of the lower unit, its the bottom of the steering are) other than this I can not think of anything unless there is s friction screw/bolt on the steering assembly...good luck
pcrussell50	posted 08-25-2013 03:52 PM ET (US) The performance boaters are partial to dual-cable steering, where one is "tight" against the other to reduce play. Play is not good when most of the boat is out of the water and you have to balance it on a thin bit of keel with your steering inputs. Not the problem with Whalers, I realize, but a point of reference. -Peter
pcrussell50	posted 08-25-2013 03:56 PM ET (US) Also, possible broken motor mount? The stock ones are rubber and if it torn or partially torn, could add to extra play. This is another area where the performance boaters eliminate play... they switch to solid mounts. Not saying you should, for a Whaler but... Also the "ProXS" line of Mercury Optimax outboards apparently use "harder" rubber mounts than regular Optimax motors, to decrease play and increase sensitivity and feel. -Peter
Tom W Clark	posted 08-26-2013 10:20 AM ET (US) The play is probably due to the steering system being old and worn. The steering wheel turning when you let go of the wheel is due to the system not being a non-feedback type (NFB) but also because there is a lot of steering torque you have not adjusted for. Try moving the trailing edge of your motor's trim to to starboard. Since you probably need a new system anyway, you can choose to buy a NFB system or not as well as how responsive a system you need, 3 turns, 4.2 turns or 5 turns lock-to-lock are all available in Teleflex mechanical systems. As a complete package, they are very inexpensive as well, as low as $100. There is no steering tension adjustment on a 1974 OMC remote steered 50 HP outboard.
skred	posted 08-26-2013 06:13 PM ET (US) Thanks, Tom for a concise response. I suspected there was no friction adjustment - but was hoping there might be. The trim fin on the AV plate is pretty much set correctly: I've had several NFB systems on various boats, and they're much better. Never had a non-NFB Teleflex that was this loose. I can spin the wheel by simply grabbing the motor and moving it from port to stbd by hand with no effort. I will try adjusting the fin to neutralize torque steer...