Steering wheel not centered

[ScarletArrow]

When my rudder is straight, my steering wheel is off center a little more than a 1/4 turn.

Consequently, I can turn the wheel about 1/4 more to the left than the right.

I've been told that I can simply loosen the bolts in the center of the wheel with an allen wrench and re-position - is this the best way?

According to this post I should be able to loosen these four bolts, re-center the steering wheel and be all set.

Do any of you have experience with this?

Can you confirm this is the correct way to approach this?

[CHassmann]

RE: Steering wheel not centered

I've been told that I can simply loosen the bolts in the center of the wheel with an allen wrench and re-position - is this the best way?

Yes.

[jthooker]

RE: Steering wheel not centered

Scarlet Arrow;
I'd be a little concerned about what caused the wheel to get out of position.
I assume this is your new 99 SNOB.
Perhaps the PO could tell you what/when/how it happenned.
In any case, be sure to check the cable and bracket assembly back at the rudder to see if anything is loose or bent.

[gotpwr]

RE: Steering wheel not centered

Since the steering shaft is splined, I think the best way is to unscrew the large nut in the center of the steering wheel under the center cap. Simply unscrew the large nut, pull the steering wheel off the splined shaft, and reinstall in the correct position. Someone probably had the steering wheel off when working on the dash and didn't put it back in the right position.

[Mikeski]

RE: Steering wheel not centered

Any of the above.

The four bolts move the pinion, the allen bolts on the wheel, or the splined coupling to the pinon shaft.

Since the top two bolts allen bolts appear to be pretty well aligned I would pop them off and rotate the wheel on the hub.

[jhiestand]

Agree with gotpwer. Just snap out the hub on the center of the wheel, unscrew the large nut, pull the wheel and put it back on straight. I wouldn't mess with the rack assembly underneath when it's really just a matter of putting the wheel itself on straight.

[Rick]

DONT DO IT!! The rudder is not straight when the boat is going straight due to the torque produced by the prop. If you have a straight rudder when you accelerate the boat will veer left. Go to any ramp and look at another inboard. With other boats the rudder will point the other way as CC boats until 2006 I think were reverse rotation. An I/O is straight because the prop itself turns not just the rudder.

[jon4pres]

At speed the torque from the prop does NOT make you have to turn the steering wheel a 1/4 turn. I would take those allen screws out and move it to be strait.

[DavidF]

Ok, here are my thoughts:
1. Find the lock-to-lock center point of travel for the steering wheel regardless of whether or not the wheel is centered.
2. Prop the center cover, remove the nut, pull the wheel and reinstall in level position.
3. Remove rear floor board to access torque tube clamping block. Loosen the clamp block bolts and center the rudder by sight (ensure the steering wheel does not move). Tighten the clamp block bolts and test drive.
4. If the steering wheel is not centered during test drive, repeat step #3, but put the rudder in a slightly off center position in the same direction as the steering wheel position. I.e., if the wheel is off center to the right, then reposition the rudder slightly to the right. Repeat until you get it exactly right.

With this proceedure, you have adjusted everything in the center of the cable travel lock-to-lock and will have the same left and right turning movement of the rudder.

[jhiestand]

I think a ton of unnecessary work is being suggested, here. Assuming your steering cable isn't too worn out, you should be able to get under the boat and move the rudder by hand (at least mine does, '01). You can center the rudder that way instead of removing the floor and all that jazz. Then take a look at your wheel. If it's still off, just pop out the center cap, undo the single nut, pull off wheel, put it back on straight and put nut/cap back. You're done.

If, by chance, your wheel is slightly off at whatever speed due to torque, you can just do same drill and reposition the wheel however you see fit.

[ag4ever]

Yes, but david's method puts all the components in a "centered" condition. He is not suggesting just moving the rudder, but disconnecting it from the steering, and recentering it on the steering cable.

Your method would be fine if the only problem was the steering wheel was installed incorrectly.

[ScarletArrow]

Ok - I took the nut off of the steering wheel and re-centered...easy enough.

However, while the wheel is straight, I can turn the wheel 1/2 turn more to the right than I can to the left.

This doesn't seem right to me - sounds like I need to recenter the rudder / cable / wheel together as David's post suggests above?

[DavidF]

Yes, you do.