airshares

I have a rack and pinion steering wheel and my wheel has lot of free play in it. Is there a way to tighten this up or do i have to replace the rack unit under the dash?

rchevelle71

As far as I could tell on the last rack we removed, there was no way of removing play. Are you sure the play is in the rack, and not out in back somewhere???

airshares

No play in back. All the play comes from the rack. When I look under the dash at the rack and slowly turn the wheel it is basically free spinning until it catches and then i see the rack move slightly so i can tell its under load. My drive was has about 1/8" free play back and forth if i grab it and wiggle it. But the wheel will turn about 2-3" either direction before it actually does anything.

jhnrckr

Does the 2-3" of wheel play match up with the slop in your rack? You might need a new steering cable, they get stretched out pretty easy. Sometimes you get some wear in the connection between the power steering pump and the arm that moves your outdrive too.

airshares

Im pretty sure its in the rack. because I can move the wheel and watch the cable. You can see the cable slightly wiggle with the wheel catches and actually turns the drive. So when the wheel is just spinning in the slack area the cable doesn't move. So I would think the slack is somewhere in teh rack unit itself. Maybe its just worn out.

technicalx

I just posted this same type of message! I knew I should have searched first.
Anyway, it appears the solution was to replace the cable, correct? I was hoping to perform an adjustment of some sort.

thanx.

aero-offshore

Might be between the steering wheel and the hub, pull the wheel off and check the key wedge thats there.

technicalx

Aero-offshore,
Haven't checked yet, but probably end up replacing the cable. Do you or anyone else know a link that helps define what kind of steering is installed and how to bleed, replace, etc...??

Checked in the manual but mine isn't shown, checked on various links but they assume I know what I'm doing !!

Anyway, thanx!!

Twig111

I replaced my cable recently. I got the part number off the cable itself. It was printed on the cable a few feet from the helm. Mine was an old teleflex cable. Nothing in the manual about it. I called the local marine store, gave them the number, they ordered a replacement.

aero-offshore

Usually its a teleflex cable with a Saginaw rack, the rack is self bleeding usually. Good luck