Tight Steering on Thunder Jet with a 212 Pump

wooldridge · 03-13-2005, 09:58 AM

My steering has gotten tight. I do not think it is in the steering cable.... The boat is 3 years old and has been in the salt. Anyone else have this happen? If so what was it? I am afraid that I may have to dig into this a little deeper than I want to... Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

bobber_boy · 03-13-2005, 10:22 AM

same thing happened to our NR with the 212 pump. Take the steering nozzle apart, and grease all the pivot points with a good marine grease. Over time, the pivot points just dry out.

Seefood Man · 03-13-2005, 10:28 AM

Do you have power steering? If not then remove the steering cable rod from the bucket and try to move the bucket by hand. If it moves with ease then it's most likely the cable. If it is hard to move then remove the pivot pins and clean and lube them. I also would look at the cable end housing that is on the outside of the transom. Turn the steering wheel prior to replacing the steering rod to the bucket. Is it tight or is there binding? If so the rack might need to be serviced as well.

Tacklebuster · 03-13-2005, 10:33 AM

My last boat was a Weldcraft Renegade with an American Turbine SD 309 pump. Every year around September my steering would start getting tight. I had it in the ocean every year as well. It was not the steering rod either becase when I took it of the pump, the steering wheel would turn just as easy as the day I bought it brand new.

I took the nozzle apart and cleaned the steering pins with a water resistant solvent, changed out the brass bushings and then put everything back together. The end result was smooth and easy steering. Just remember to use lock tight on your bolts that assemble the nozzle. Two years ago I didn't do that and the end result was a bolt coming out while I was 12 miles away from the dock. The lower steering pin dropped out and I had no reverse or steering at all

Thanks for the tow Dipnet

Seefood Man · 03-13-2005, 11:59 AM

Just an after thought for you, if the "steering rod" is over greased it will cause tight steering problems as well. Remove the grease fitting and turn the wheel from lock to lock several times to pump out any excess grease then replace the fitting. It only takes a couple of shots of grease to keep it happy. And by all means Lock tight is a must on those pins.

Nomad · 03-13-2005, 08:13 PM

Had the same thing happen to my Sport jet 175. I procrastinated because I was into the Fall pigs and ended up it was my cable. It broke on what was my last fall trip last year.

Good thing the tides were in my favor when it happened...

CHECK THE CABLE

wooldridge · 03-14-2005, 07:51 AM

Thanks for the help. I did verify that it was not the cable. I ended up taking the nozzle apart and greasing it. It is working great now!