calfish1
catchum all from the backseat
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oakdale ca
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| Re: Stiff steering (gar) » | 2:37 PM 11/11/2009 |
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buy the sea star kit and do the install yourself. what your felling is the torque, other than setting the torque tab on the lower unit and that wont help much at all, there isnt not much else.
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CHARLEG
79 Ranger 198V 84 200 Merc
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640 posts
WARRIOR AL
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| Re: Stiff steering (calfish1) » | 4:44 PM 11/11/2009 |
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If it is under warranty why don't they just replace the cables?
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rangerguy
Kick The Tires and Light The Fire
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Abilene Texas
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| Re: Stiff steering (gar) » | 6:35 PM 11/11/2009 |
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You can buy the best Hydraulic Steering System they make for about $875.00 and put it on yourself.It would be the best investment you ever made to a boat and motor. $2300 is a rip off. Check this Pro system out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...fGear 
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gar
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barrie
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| Re: Stiff steering (CHARLEG) » | 9:56 PM 11/11/2009 |
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| Quote, originally posted by CHARLEG » | | If it is under warranty why don't they just replace the cables? |
I live some 230 miles away from the dealer who sold me the boat. Taking the boat back to them is not an easy thing to do. A boat dealer near my home suggested re-run the steering cable at the starboard side of stern to make it less curved to reduce the friction. Whether this will help ? Any idea about it? Thanks.
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haveme1
Kiss My Bass !
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1088 posts
Star MS
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| Re: Stiff steering (gar) » | 12:41 AM 11/12/2009 |
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Mine is stiff also till "that spot" is found with the trim after plain. I just know where I'm going .... straight on take off. After I got used to the boat, getting on plain is just a hop then total control returns to me. I would think you will also loose some of your concern after you get better acquainted with the boat.
I had a buddy show me some of the tricks/tips at first then he stayed with me for a couple of trips riding/trying stuff.*******
2000 Nitro NX 882, Merc 150, XR6
Life is kinda hard but it's
better than the other options .. er ..option !
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gar
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barrie
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| Re: Stiff steering (haveme1) » | 10:31 AM 11/12/2009 |
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| Quote, originally posted by haveme1 » | Mine is stiff also till "that spot" is found with the trim after plain. I just know where I'm going .... straight on take off. After I got used to the boat, getting on plain is just a hop then total control returns to me. I would think you will also loose some of your concern after you get better acquainted with the boat.
I had a buddy show me some of the tricks/tips at first then he stayed with me for a couple of trips riding/trying stuff. |
That means I do not need to do anything about it and just try to be familar with the boat? thanks. 
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western angler
Navy Divers go deeper
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tucson az
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| Re: Stiff steering (CHARLEG) » | 10:40 AM 11/12/2009 |
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| Quote, originally posted by CHARLEG » | | If it is under warranty why don't they just replace the cables? |
I would look at the cables and see if they are to long. Long cables that have a loop in them will be very hard to turn. Then again the boat may have set outside in a field in the weather for awhile before being shipped. Tracker does do that. And the cables may have gotten moisture in them. As quoted above I would attempt to make them fix it first before investing in hydralic steering. While that is the way to go it should still work right. You might want to see if the torque tab could be adjusted if it is pulling to one side on start up. Once on plane the tab doesn't do anything. Good luck
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CHARLEG
79 Ranger 198V 84 200 Merc
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640 posts
WARRIOR AL
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| Re: Stiff steering (western angler) » | 1:35 PM 11/12/2009 |
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I would look at the cables to see if they have a loop or something as stated. The cables probly cost about $100 ea or so.
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Cheech
Fishful Thinking
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312 posts
Chicago IL
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| Re: Stiff steering (rangerguy) » | 5:35 PM 11/12/2009 |
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| Quote, originally posted by rangerguy » | | Seastar... It would be the best investment you ever made to a boat and motor. |
My boat very much needs this. I have two friends with boats nearly identical to mine. Their steering can always be done one handed. It's easy to steer. They both have hydraulic assist on their boats. I don't. Mine is easy at speed but hard to steer all the little corrections at low speed and around the dock. IS THE SEASTAR hydraulic steering package worth it AND is it a pain to install? This would be on a 1998 boat with a 90HP Johnson. Thanks! -Cheech
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haveme1
Kiss My Bass !
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1088 posts
Star MS
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| Re: Stiff steering (gar) » | 2:42 AM 11/13/2009 |
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| Quote, originally posted by gar » | That means I do not need to do anything about it and just try to be familar with the boat? thanks. |
That's not what I said. If there IS a problem .. get it fixed. If your creating a problem ... what ever. It's not gonna be like a car 
back at ya
Modified by haveme1 at 10:10 PM 11/13/2009
*******
2000 Nitro NX 882, Merc 150, XR6
Life is kinda hard but it's
better than the other options .. er ..option !
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Fishin' Steeler
SX190 guy
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Cedar Valley, southwest of Austin Texas
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| Re: Stiff steering (gar) » | 3:22 PM 11/16/2009 |
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I was gonna have hydraulic installed on my Skeeter because of stiff steering, and the Skeeter dealer quoted me $1750 for the job... which was a rip-off price. Twenty-three hundred!?!? WHOA!!Turns out my problem was broken gears in the helm, and kinked and unlubed cables. My mechanic replaced the whole thing, pulling the motor, installing and lubing the cables, replaced the helm, etc. for $500 total. Dual cables from SeaStar were $225, new helm was $75, labor $200. If it's under warranty from Tracker, I'd contact them and find a local shop that handles their warranty work for an inspection before dropping any serious bucks. If it's a dealer warranty, you may have to drive the miles. But hold off on the hydraulic, unless you have a spare couple grand laying around... then it's worth it for the single-finger steering.  
"I've never killed a man, but I've read several obituaries with great pleasure."
"To err is human, to yee-haw is Texan."
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ol man river
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jacksonville florida
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| Re: Stiff steering (Fishin' Steeler) » | 5:54 PM 11/16/2009 |
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stiff steering indicates a problem . i think a cable was overbent during installation. if seastar hydraulic is too much $$ then check out teleflex NFB system . dual cable / single rack. no torque on steering wheel. should work fine for your rig, at a lot less $$ than hydraulic. ( if you plan on keeping the bouat for a looong time spen the money on hydraulic, its worth it ) 
Those who don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.
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billnorman
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glen burnie md
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| Re: Stiff steering (ol man river) » | 7:28 AM 11/17/2009 |
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If you only have 90 HP you don't need Sea Star, the Bay Star is about 20% cheaper. Both systems are rather easy to install, the most difficult thing I found was drilling the hole for the helm. Properly installed, new cable steering should be very easy to turn.
If you shop around, you can get rock bottom prices on either, my Sea Star and cables cost me less than $950 including shipping.
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billnorman
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glen burnie md
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| Re: Stiff steering (billnorman) » | 7:30 AM 11/17/2009 |
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The above referenced 90 HP was for the other guy that asked about his rig. I know the original author has a 150.
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gar
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barrie
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| Re: Stiff steering (billnorman) » | 11:27 AM 11/18/2009 |
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Thanks everyone. I eventually booked an appointment with my local tracker dealer to have the steering checked next week. They said over the phone that for a 150 motor, it is normal to feel heavier if I only have a mechanical steering but they will take a look at it anyway.
Modified by gar at 7:35 PM 12/1/2009
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ol man river
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jacksonville florida
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| Re: Stiff steering (gar) » | 8:32 PM 11/19/2009 |
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it should NOT feel stiff in any way if you trun it lock to lock while on the trailer(with engine trimmed down ) teleflex nfb cable/helm should run you $400 approx and its not that hard to install........well kinda, depends on boat/ ease of fishing cables........
Those who don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.
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