steering centralization adjustment advice

[FalconSteve]

Hi all,

I've finally found the time to tackle an annoying problem on merlin, my steering wheel is out of adjustment and has to be turned slightly to starboard to correctly align the boat for straight forward motion. I say slightly, the Guage on the steering wheel reads 1.5 when correctly angled and obviously this limits the amount of starboard turn avaliable as 8 is the maximum amount the wheel will turn in either direction.

So my question is how do I correct this? The boat is a falcon 27, with volvo penta ad31 engines attached to dp 290 outdrives. The steering is power assisted.

An idiots guide would be most welcome.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[spannerman]

If its a gauge in the centre of the wheel, then you can simply take it off, turn it to zero and refit it, if you mean the wheel is not aligned, then you will struggle to find a wheel on a boat that is aligned as most only have a couple of positions where you can fit it to the shaft.

 

[FalconSteve]

Hi spannerman, I'm not worried about the esthetics of the helm, it is purely a functional limitation that I want to correct. My starboard turning circle is much restricted in comparison to a port turn. I think there must be a hard terminator at around the 8 mark on each direction of travel, I want to give the same amount of angular adjustment in each direction, removing the wheel and making it look right won't achieve this.

Can you advise on how the control system is aligned when the boat is assembled? I am hoping there is some adjustment in the system somewhere.

Thanks again,

Steve

 

[stelican]

Steering

Try calling the manufacturers
The sales manager now works for the brokerage company at Lowestoft Marina
He can point you in the right direction excuse the pun!

 

[spannerman]

There are no adjustments on the components in the engine room so the only thing to try is remove the steering cable from the drum behind the helm and refit so that with the drive straight ahead the wheel is also at straight ahead when the cable is spooled back on to the drum, its a bit trial and error to find the right spot, you should have equal travel on both locks then.

 

[FalconSteve]

There are no adjustments on the components in the engine room so the only thing to try is remove the steering cable from the drum behind the helm and refit so that with the drive straight ahead the wheel is also at straight ahead when the cable is spooled back on to the drum, its a bit trial and error to find the right spot, you should have equal travel on both locks then.

Hi spannerman, thanks for your input, I was afraid sometime would say that, I don't have a socket large enough for the steering wheel, I'll have to measure it and buy one.

 

[FalconSteve]

Try calling the manufacturers
The sales manager now works for the brokerage company at Lowestoft Marina
He can point you in the right direction excuse the pun!

Very interesting, I'm glad to hear he's still in the industry. I was contemplating trying to resurrect the defunct owners club for falcons, he be a great contact for that.

 

[spannerman]

If you have good access to the back of the helm then you only need to remove the anchor bolt where the cable enters the drum and wind the wheel to push the cable out, its an 11m head if I remember correctly.

 

[FalconSteve]

If you have good access to the back of the helm then you only need to remove the anchor bolt where the cable enters the drum and wind the wheel to push the cable out, its an 11m head if I remember correctly.

I'll have a look at the back of the helm when I go down next weekend, I thought I would see some control cables going to the rack behind the engines, it looks like it's hydraulic to me, I can't see any wires at all.

 

[spannerman]

If it is hydraulic, then you will never get the wheel central as there is always some 'creep' in the system, its easy to identify as there should be a filling plug on top of the helm just behind the wheel.

 

[cryan]

Are you sure its not just the indicator? If you set the drives (Not the wheel) to midships does the indicator read midships? If not its just the indicator feedback arm that is wrongly adjusted. They are usually pretty easy to adjust.
If you confirm you do have restricted travel in one direction then you are entering the realm of many possibilities. I admit to not being particularly familiar with your specific set up but if you follow a simple process you should be able to identify the problem. 1) is anything visibly impeding the arc of the drive legs? 2)Are the steering rams physically impeded in their extension or are they failing to extend and retract fully hydraulically? 3) How are the drive legs tied together? are they connected via a tie-bar or are they hydraulically split? If tie-bar is it impeded in its travel? If Hydraulically split are both legs failing to turn fully or just one? if one its that leg if both it must be in a common part of system.
I'm sure you see what I'm getting at. start simple and through a process of elimination you'll get there. (Sorry if above is complicated)
But check its not the instrumentation first as its not uncommon for the feed back arm on the sender unit to fall out of calibration due to vibration.