Play in steering

[Shetland28]

have a lot of play in the steering, enough to make the boat difficult to steer at low speed.
When moving the free play at the steering wheel, movement can be seen at steering ram so don’t believe that the helm and cable require replacing.
Is there any adjustments that can be made at the ram, as I can also see the ram moving when moving the free play at the wheel.
The engine is a Volvo Penta 4.3 GXIE and SX A drive.
Anyone else had this problem?

 

[Zing]

I just re-built my steering a few days ago. Chain and gearbox to the quadrant. Tightening the chain reduced play considerably. Different systems, different ways to do it. You need to say what you have.

 

[Shetland28]

Hi,
Steering is a rotary Teleflex cable system to a VolvoPenta outdrive

 

[PCUK]

Sounds as if you need to secure the “ram” so that it can't move, then make bushes to take the wear out of the swivel pin and housing.

 

[Zing]

Teleflex cables usually don’t have adjustment for play, but you may find the end fittings are loose.

 

[Shetland28]

Sounds as if you need to secure the “ram” so that it can't move, then make bushes to take the wear out of the swivel pin and housing.

Hi,
Would have to get an engineering company to do the re-bushing, and probably make new pins.
New steering ram on eBay is around £600.00
The EBay option is the quickest.

 

[Chris_d]

You might have some play however all outdrive boats are difficult at low speed needing almost constant small corrections, do you know someone else with an outdrive or outboard boat who can assess it for you. If you are new to an outdrive boat it will take a while to get used to.

 

[Shetland28]

Hi,

Always had play in the steering, but this is is excessive

 

[Scubadoo]

I don't know how SX drives compare to a DPE... check in the engine bay to see if the steering bush is weeping water, that's a sign it needs replacing. Repack with grease is likely to stop it weeping and reduce the play in the outdrive, there is a grease nipple behind the engine to do this. However, in my experience you will always have some play in the steering no matter what you do.

 

[PCUK]

Hi,
Would have to get an engineering company to do the re-bushing, and probably make new pins.
New steering ram on eBay is around £600.00
The EBay option is the quickest.

Doesn't need engineering, call it shimming if you like. Anything to get rid of the worst of the play.
If you want to vastly improve slow speed steering. Fit a fixed skeg right aft at the transom to act as a fixed rudder. Very effective. (Suggested after many years of use on many different boats).