Question about steering

[fishfafun]

2006 PIV 200 Optimax, hydraulic steering/tilt & trim.I know this was brought up before but would like the answer before taking it/talking to my dealer about it….steering wheel is what I would consider too loose(sloppy) on the shaft (up and down movement of 1/2″ or so and side to side of a 1/4″ or so). I understand that there may be a knuckle behind steering that can be tightened (theres not any play in the under console part so the loosness is inside of the outer half of the unit). Is this much play normal?Question would also be is this a warantable item by BCB as it may have to be replaced?I will call Scott next week with my serial # to get the scoop but I will be talking to my dealership before hand and would like to hear from you on this issue as to the safety of running it with that much play and any other info you can give..Thanks for the help.Tom(fishfafun)

[Bass Cat Boats]

You can roll the rubber boot back and inspect the pivot knuckle. There are a couple of allen heads in there that you may need a ball socket to tighten properly. The shaft may need to be tightened under the steering wheel center cap also. These can wear at the knuckle in time. Usually it is a sign that you have some excess steering wheel torque. Unless you just use the dickens out of it. This may be a warranty item, though we hard ever see one loose enough that Teleflex will warranty. You will have about 1/2 to a full 1 inch of wheel travel when tight.Please look at this to make sure it is taught, and confer with your dealership on the steering pivot. They have probably hade one apart before and would know more than one who has not. They will work with our service staff and if it needs a replacement, get it worked out.BCB

[fishfafun]

thanks for the quick response….just looking at it while cleaning up the boat and theres even some looseness/play/sliding between plastic cover and console fiberglass….wish it was time for the 100 hr. service (2 birds ya know)…oh well, Mossdale here I come….Tom

[Bass Cat Boats]

Sounds like you might have more than one issue. FYI – Teleflex does offer a beefier replacement locking nut for the tilt mechanism that is less prone to loosening up than the original nut. I had a mechanic install the new nut on my 02 P3 and it reduced my steering play quite a bit. Might want to call Teleflex and check on availability. Since yours is an 06, it might already have the better locking nut though…

[Bass Cat Boats]

Nice Catch BoBo, though this is the newer cylinder and not the older style. Though the rods that go through the steering tube on the engine could definitely be loose. Different than what you are explaining, though the same results.BCB

[Bass Cat Boats]

Sounds like it is doing the same thing that my 2006 was doing. There are 2 large phillips head machine screws that attach the tilt to the base plate mounted on the console. I removed the sterring wheel and boot and found them very loose. There is star lock waskers behind them but when I tightened them I also put locktite on them. made a big diffrence and have not had any problems since.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Those screws are set into one of the few pieces of urethane foam board in the boat. It offered bulk and is an easy install for us. We ourselves have not noticed this loosening, though if it is we need to revisit this material. The material is a 36 pound density and denser than most other urethane board with a glass loaded fiber.This is the same material (Not Coosa though same) boarding that is used in our “Compeitors” Transoms, Floors, and many other areas. We use absolutlely none in a BCB Hull, only a couple of areas like this. The compression of the board when bolts is the reason we do not use it in many other areas, like those floors and transoms. This material will not hold a screw either. We had found it adequate for the areas we are using it, though we will look into this. Thanks for popping on and giving us a second one.BCB

[lawson101]

We could go back to the stick steering!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a jokeHope you get your problems solved

[Bass Cat Boats]

The screws Im talking about looked to be 1/4 20 machine screws. They mount the tilt aluminum pice to the aluminum pice that is threded for these screws and mounted to the console. the screws going through the console were fine.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Good! Thats better!BCB

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