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steering problem- sportster 4 tec

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kcbsvx

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Hello All-

The boat will not steer left at speed. Steers right, but not left.
Steers R & L at idle speeds. This started immediately on my first outing after the winter layup.

I searched here and did not find the answer. Thanks in advance for your help.

Christian
 
twin engines? get two people, one to turn the steering on a trailer the other to watch in the rear, if they both seem to be working good, try to hold one of the still at the sae time as the person trying to steer and see if there is any play, also check the bushing play in the nossels as well, then also check your wear rings, if this is a twin engine when you are up on a plan does it tend to pull to one side?
 
Check the nozzles to be in sync and correctly adjusted so they turn the same amount in both directions along with pointed not to one side.

Karl
 
Thank you for the suggestions.

My 2004 Sportster only has one motor and one nozzle. I looked at the exploded parts diagram for the steering and am now guessing that a nut has come loose on only one side of the through hull fitting or the bracket up by the steering arm. This might allow the steering wheel to pull on the cable but not push (or visa versa depending on which nut) while under stress.

If the cable broke inside the sheath I could push and not pull, but that doesn't explain why the steering works at idle speed. Strange.

I normally Doo alot of radical turns, 180* stops, etc when no one else is around and thought the steering might have slightly more slack than normal at the end of last season. I wondered if I could have stretched the cable a little. It was virtually fine when I put her away for winter.

This problem occured on my first launch this year. Steered fine at idle off the trailer, to the beach while I parked the trailer, manuvered off the beach, and then through the no wake zone to the river. When I throttled up to turn 90* left into the river I went STRAIGHT. I immediately throttled back and stopped. I tried the steering both ways at idle... fine. At 1/3 throttle and more... right but no left.

I will get help this weekend to turn the wheel while on the trailer as I observe and then try to hold or pull the nozzle against the steering in both directions.

Seems unusual this isn't a known issue/fix.

I am sure we will figure it out together.

Christian
 
Hello again-

It seems the outer hard metal sheath that should be tight to the through hull seal came loose. The sheath/tube that normally keeps the cable straight and taught when "pushing/extending" the cable out from the hull now allows the cable to bend/curve. This is the case in LEFT turns.

At slow speeds the cable itself is stiff enough to push the nozzle to turn left. At higher speeds the force required to turn left overcomes the stiffness of the cable and the cable bends instead of pushing the nozzle because the loose sheath cannot keep it straight.

Turning right, the cable is pulled back into the hull and there is no slack to cause problems.

The metal sheath is between the Seal Swivel #34 and the Terminal Wiper # 37 in the following link.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/seadooforums/Seadoo_oem/Seadoo_JB.asp?Type=13&A=96&B=15

Are those set screws on # 34 and 37? Did a set screw come loose and allow the sheath to come away from the through hull fitting? Is there a crimp connection there that came loose?

Any help will be truely appreciated.
 
Hello All-

I am told by a SD Dealer service manager that there is a crimp that failed to hold the "tube" to the through-transom point.

Looks like a new steering cable for me, but I would love to see one before I buy it to see if there is a way to repair it.

Anyone have access to one to photo the crimp?

Thanks,
Christian
 
Hello All-

I am told by a SD Dealer service manager that there is a crimp that failed to hold the "tube" to the through-transom point.

Looks like a new steering cable for me, but I would love to see one before I buy it to see if there is a way to repair it.

Anyone have access to one to photo the crimp?

Thanks,
Christian

They are referring to the part where the plastic outside sleeve is crimped the metal sleeve to the plastic one, usually in most cases the plastic actually snaps there instead, I actually just had this happen on saturday to me, thats 2 skis now I broke the outer sleeve on, I really wonder how well they are made or if there will ever be a recall on them.

Or there is another part that holds the actual cable to the transome and you can usually buy it seperately as well.

If you pull up the diagram of it you should be able to locate it, do you have a picture of the problem with the old one?
 
HI Guys , I am having similar problem... my 2005 sportster ( one engine) makes a 180 turn to the left no problem but to the right its more of a very wide turn. I had a buddy of mine steer while I looked at the nozzle and it seems like its turning the exact amount in both directions however I did notice that the steering wheel seems to turn a max of 90 degrees to the right but almost double that to the left .... Any ideas.. ?? any help is appreciated .
 
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