454 Mercruiser Steering and shifting

[Getaway]

Last summer, our new to us 270 Fiesta Vee exhibited a 'looseness' in the steering.  I'm not talking about the 'wake walking' from side to side at slow speed but what appears to be more play in the wheel when trying to go straight ahead while on plane.  The tech at the marina looked at the boat in the water and pronounced it average.  I'm still not convinced.  Is there any adjustment that allows tightening of the 'play'??

The second question concerns the Forward-Neutral-Reverse throttle handle position on the mounting.  Ours, while in Neutral is in a further aft position than the mount's markings, F-N-R, indicate.  I tried removing the set screw that holds the handle (after taking the mount cover off) and pulling the throttle handle laterally to port.  However there is not enough give to allow the splined shaft to come free of the handle.  It appears moving the handle one or possibly 2 spline positions would properly align the throttle handle without any changes made to any cables - any ideas?  Many thanks

[Talon]

Getaway, there has got to be adjustment on the steering. Does it feel like play in the steering wheel, or play is the actual drive turning? MY guess is the wheel. If so, it should just be a matter of finding the adjustment point on the steering cables. Do you have power steering?

[Getaway]

The steering is power and as far as I can see the wheel is attached to something behind the steering/instrument bulkhead (the mirror in the head lifts up to reveal the wiring for the instruments but no access to the 'working end of the steering)  so I cannot see if there are cables that have an adjustment or somesort of rack and pinon connected to a cable(most obvious method to push-pull a cable).  At the engine/out-drive end is where the cable/hydraulic interface is, the power steering, and although there is some bracket movement when the steering is operated there is not enough to indicate the slack at the wheel.

Once I get back north (we winter in Florida) and before the boat goes into the water I expect to be a pest around a few boat yards as I question folks about various 'systems' on the boat.  

This forum is a great thing thank you for that.

My initial query about missing wiring diagrams has been successfully responded to and FAX copies of the missing pages are waiting for me up north!

[merwin10]

Steering loose, I believe your steering is power assited if it is like all the rest I have seen. What this means is that the wheel pushs a cable that is attached to a piston in the stern of the boat. This cable is attached to a actuator. There is a nut on the end of the cable to hold it tight. If this nut backs off losening the cable, it will move as the wheel is turned, thus given the play you spoke of. There is the same set up on the other end of the cable that attaches to wheel. Check that both of these nuts are secure.

You will always have a little looseness in the steering! This is due to the actuator needs to move a slight amount before it engages the power assit and the piston turns the drive(s). The acuator needs this little amount of play to tell the piston which way to go, or more correctly, decide which port to put the pressureize oil into piston. This is the reason that at low speeds you are always making slight corrections. The actuator is in the middle and dosenot know which port to use, until you give it a correction.

Look at the transom you will see an arm coming out with a piston attached to it. On the starboard side there should be a black plastic cased cable about the size of your index finger it will be on the end of the piston and the end of the cable will go to the actuator. If you have some one turn the wheel back and forth you will see the cable move. The engine does not need to be running to see this. You will also see the actuator move back and forth.

If this is not the problem you need to look at the pivot points of the control arm or the wheel it self. The wheel works on a gear and rack design. perhaps there is exessive wear there.

Let me know how yo make out, there are a few other things that could be wrong, however they are more complicated.  My guess is the lock nut for the cable has backed off, from vibration, just tighten it.

Mike -