steering went out...

[kdiddy]

need some help here, hopefully this is a easy problem to fix...

Yesterday the steering went out in my 89 Sport. The wheel will turn a bit, about half the normal radius. When you turn the wheel, the rudder will move slightly to the left, but no where near it's full range of motion. So when the throttle is engaged the boat just makes a hard left turn.

I don't know how the steering system works, but my suspicion is that a cable or something has come loose or broken. I don't know how to inspect it or fix it, but I'm hoping it's something I can do myself if someone walks me through it. After having it in the shop for nearly 6 weeks I don't want to put it back in.

let me know if you've got any suggestions or other questions that might help me out.
thanks.
KB

[skijones]

Pull the back seat and the floor panels. Check to see if the cable moves with the wheel. If not, new cable needed. Could be the mounting block by the rudder has come loose. If in doubt at all, replace the cable. No point in wrecking or getting someone hurt for $150.00

[kdiddy]

well, after talking to the guy at the dealership he made a good point...if the steering cable had broken it wouldn't have moved the rudder even a little, so that's probably not the issue.

More than likely something is jammed in the mechanism restricting it's movement. Although, I have had some people tell me the cables can get gummed up and get difficult to turn, so that may be it. Although I suspect that if that were the case steering would have potten progressively difficult, rather than all of a sudden.

I'm going to pull up the back floor board this weekend, and see if anything's in there, but what about aroud the steering wheel end? Anything I should look for or aviod in particular?

[bkhallpass]

If the cable was fraying inside the sleave, or if the cable was
corroding but you were still using the boat, I could see it being
progressive. However, if one of the linkages got stuck or spun off, or if
the cable got kinked, somehting like that, then I would expect
more suddent difficulty.

BKH

[kdiddy]

will it be fairly obvious is something has come loose or got disconnected?
In other words if this is the problem, will I be able to know what it is and fix it pretty easily with basic tools and no new parts?

[bkhallpass]

will it be fairly obvious is something has come loose or got disconnected?
In other words if this is the problem, will I be able to know what it is and fix it pretty easily with basic tools and no new parts?

I'm a little confused. you said you have an 89 sport. I didn't think
CC made the sport in 89. Anyway, I'm no expert, but I've done
2 (98 Sport, and 85 malibu). Based on that, I'd say it should not be too difficult.
It's just a simple cable connected at the steering bulkhead at one end
and the rudder at the other. Its run under the floorboard, should be
along the stringer. Might have some clips holding it to the stringer.
As suggested above, there should be a mounting block near the
rudder connection. This hold the casing of the cable in one place, while
the cable moves in or out moving the rudder (kinda like the linkage
on a car or lawnmotor throttle). If this has come loose, then the
hole assembly moves, not just the cable. You'll probably have to remove
the backseat, and potentially move the gas tank depending upon
what boat you have, but it's not difficult. If you have to change the cable,
I found running it under the floor, and then making sure it was connected in the right direction were the two biggest POAs. Mechanically, it is very
simple.

BKH

[kdiddy]

from what I understand there were a very few Sport models released that were classified as '89 models. I'd love to know how many, if anyone knows. From what I've been told the main difference was the the 89 and I believe the 90 had a molded fiberglass swim platform rather than the teak. Mine's been modified and changed around so much it really doesn't resemble the original much at all except for the hull shape.

As for the steering, I'm hoping the loose connection is at the wheel end rather than the rudder. I've ogt a rather heavy sub woofer box in place of the typical back seat. Moving it and disconnecting all the subs will be time consuming.

It sounds like whatever problem I have isn't a big as I feared at first. it's just a matter of getting down to it and investigating. I'm going down to the lake in the morning to have a look.

I'll let you guys know what I find. Thanks for the help.

[genevatexan]

By the way, I did a cable replacement on my 19'6 Nautique last season and the best suggestion on the web was to attach a string or fine rope to the old cable as you pull it out through the hull at the steering end, so you can tie the string onto the new cable and pull it back towards the rudder end. This made the process of guiding the cable under the enclosed hull portion much easier. I also agree with earlier suggestion that it sounds like the fixed mount right next the the attachment to the rudder has come undone. Its a simple fix on my boat. Pull up the removable floor section and look at the cable. Its right there.