Steering Play in Sport Nautique

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   I have a 1996 sport nautique.  I'm the second owner and i believe the cable and rack has been replaced once.  After doing some research on nautiqueparts.com website  I have determined i have the older style cable and rack.  The steering wheel turns very easily however there is about 2 inches of travel on the wheel before it engages with the rudder cable.  This is also confirmed by moving the wheel and having someone at the rudder watching for movement.  When under the dash I took a big plyers and held the shaft of the helm on top of the rack and notice about a 1/2 inch of slop in the steering wheel as i move it.  Do i need to replace the tilt assembly, helm, cable w/rack or all 3.  I'm thinking of starting with just the tilt assembly.  The whole issue wouldn't bother me however it makes making corrections while in the course that much harder.  
PS I all ready checked the cable where it meets the rudder and it all seems good.  Really feels like an issue  from the wheel to the cable.
Thanks
Bob

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Union Lake Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: January-08-2012 Location: Northfield MN Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Union Lake Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Steering Play in Sport Nautique Posted: April-10-2014 at 11:08pm
	I have a 1996 sport nautique. I'm the second owner and i believe the cable and rack has been replaced once. After doing some research on nautiqueparts.com website I have determined i have the older style cable and rack. The steering wheel turns very easily however there is about 2 inches of travel on the wheel before it engages with the rudder cable. This is also confirmed by moving the wheel and having someone at the rudder watching for movement. When under the dash I took a big plyers and held the shaft of the helm on top of the rack and notice about a 1/2 inch of slop in the steering wheel as i move it. Do i need to replace the tilt assembly, helm, cable w/rack or all 3. I'm thinking of starting with just the tilt assembly. The whole issue wouldn't bother me however it makes making corrections while in the course that much harder. PS I all ready checked the cable where it meets the rudder and it all seems good. Really feels like an issue from the wheel to the cable. Thanks Bob
	BB

GlassSeeker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: November-26-2008 Location: Elk Grove, CA. Status: Offline Points: 2421	Post Options Post Reply Quote GlassSeeker Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-10-2014 at 11:13pm
	cable is usually the weak link. but your symptoms are kind of strange.
	This is the life

Union Lake Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: January-08-2012 Location: Northfield MN Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Union Lake Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-10-2014 at 11:16pm
	Ya, i would think cables get replaced when the steering is hard not from play in turning the wheel until you feel the cable engage.
	BB

MartyMabe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: February-21-2006 Location: High Point,NC Status: Offline Points: 3973	Post Options Post Reply Quote MartyMabe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-11-2014 at 11:31am
	Splines or keyway on shaft itself.Take the steering wheel off and check hub,splines,keyway for deformation....
	66 Skylark 93 SN If you're not living in NC, you're just camping out!

TX Foilhead Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: February-01-2009 Location: Kingsland TX Status: Offline Points: 2076	Post Options Post Reply Quote TX Foilhead Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-11-2014 at 12:43pm
	I think you have already ruled this out but it it's easy to check; the clamp block can cause the same issues if it is worn or loose. The helm is connected to the tilt by 2 pieces that clamp on each side of the flat spot on the end of the helm, make sure that is tight.

Union Lake Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: January-08-2012 Location: Northfield MN Status: Offline Points: 56	Post Options Post Reply Quote Union Lake Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-11-2014 at 2:24pm
	I tightened the helm bolts as well as the clamp block. It helped a lot but i still have about 2 inches to play. Still trying to figure it out. Thanks
	BB

Bri892001 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-27-2008 Location: Boston MA Status: Offline Points: 4945	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bri892001 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-21-2014 at 3:45pm
	The clamp block clamps down on the tube (towards the back of the boat), but then steering cable has to screw into the tube. Maybe that was not threaded on:

ny_nautique Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: June-01-2011 Location: Albany NY Status: Offline Points: 1215	Post Options Post Reply Quote ny_nautique Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-21-2014 at 5:30pm
	What about the whole cable assembly itself not being secure? I seem to remember that it was cable-tied to the stringers. If not, maybe the initial turn of the wheel first moves the whole assembly, and then at about 2", it has nowhere else to go so the internal cable finally starts to move.
	- Jeff 1999 Ski Nautique

Steering Play in Sport Nautique

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