Alpha One Gen 2 Loose Steering

[ceeg52]

2004 Sea Ray with 5.0 MPI and Alpha One Gen2 Sterndrive. When the boat engine is off the steering wheel is loose and goes a few inches to the left or right before it feels like the sterndrive is moving. Also, I feel the same loose steering when driving the boat regardless of speed. Any ideas on what I need to do to identify the cause of the problem.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Look to see where the looseness is. have someone watch the steering arm inside the boat and have someone move the drive left and right. drive and arm must be solid and move together.
If this is the case, then check the steering cable connection at the PS unit

 

[scoflaw]

3" of wheel play when running is considered normal. These words are from Teleflex

 

[BillK2632]

Also, check to be sure the gimbal ring screws have not loosened up - the two bolts at the very top of the gimbal ring. Merc says to check re torque every 100hrs - but that might be overkill. These clamp the gimbal ring onto the steering pin. Torque spec is 55ftlb, if you are retorqing, loosing them first, then torque to spec - it is possible to over-tighten and stretch the U bolt.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mer...i=F1Q1Wo1kaPTGnM:&imgrc=cWCyI6mAENB7EM:&vet=1

 

[susanandlance]

3" of wheel play when running is considered normal. These words are from Teleflex

+1