Loose Steering/Lots of Play in Wheel - 2005 SAN 210 TE

[umatilla_matt]

I just bought a 2005 SAN 210 and the steering is incredibly loose. I can turn the wheel almost a quarter turn before the rudder moves. The steering wheel also has play in it up and down in the column. The rudder is tight. I took apart the steering column/helm and didn't notice anything loose or out of the ordinary. Do I need a new steerin cable or should I replace the steering column/helm first? Or both? I've read that the steering cable needs to be replaced when the steering gets tight and hard to turn. Mine is really easy to turn once I get past the play in the wheel. I was trying to stay away from replacing the steering cable because I've done it before on a direct drive and it is a PITA. I can only imagine the difficulty on a v-drive.

Any suggestions?

[umatilla_matt]

Would replacing the steering column/helm have any effect on the looseness of the steering? I'm thinking I could try that before replacing the steering cable. The boat only has 185 hours on it. I thought steering cables needed to be replaced around 500 hours or so.

[hyparks]

My friend has an 05 that had play in the steering up and down. There's a bush inside the steering column. My friend made one out of polypropelene on a laith. Think that's how you spell it. Fitted it and is as good as new. Don't think that's going to sort out the play your talking about where your steering don't start until you have turned it quarter of a turn.

[umatilla_matt]

Thanks, I'll look into that. The loose steering is what's really bothering me. I guess I'll just order a new steering cable. I didn't think a boat with only 185 hours would need a new one, but maybe it does. I've been trying to get a diagram or picture of where the steering cable attaches to the rudder. If something is loose down there the cable could be sliding back and forth a 1/4 inch or so before it pulls or pushes the rudder.

[nms1991]

Did you check the clevis on the tiller arm for tightness? Did you check the guide tube block for tightness around the cable the pivot point and the pivot shaft to the aluminum bracket its bolted to.

[umatilla_matt]

I got down on top of the right side ballast tank and watched the rudder and guide tube while someone turned the wheel back and forth where the looseness is. Nothing moved. Once the wheel was turned so far the cable would then engage the rudder.