Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner
Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Hi Folks!
Just got a new pontoon with a 60 HP 4-cycle motor, old one had a 25 HP. I've driven other boats with larger motors so I have some experience. The steering on this new pontoon is pretty hard and during the engine break-in period my arms got tired. Other boats aren't this hard and the last boat i just sold was like a car with power steering, you could steer it with one finger.
I called the company where I bought it and their response was "well some are just like that" . I did take the grease gun around and hit the zerks but none of them really took any grease.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Don
Just got a new pontoon with a 60 HP 4-cycle motor, old one had a 25 HP. I've driven other boats with larger motors so I have some experience. The steering on this new pontoon is pretty hard and during the engine break-in period my arms got tired. Other boats aren't this hard and the last boat i just sold was like a car with power steering, you could steer it with one finger.
I called the company where I bought it and their response was "well some are just like that" . I did take the grease gun around and hit the zerks but none of them really took any grease.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Don
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Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
I wish I had a better answer but if you had power assist or basic hydraulic steering on the last boat you are now spoiled. A small motor (25 hp. As mentioned) is much easier to steer than even a 60 without a hydraulic steering system. Most likely you have a standard cable steering system with your new boat. Is it harder to make a right turn vs. left? That would be the rotation of the motor you are fighting. There are plenty of options to upgrade but they cost more. I would think your dealer would have mentioned that or at least listen to your issue.
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Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD
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Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Also you can try trimming the engine. On my boat if it was not trimmed correct it would be harder to steer and could pull some.
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Thanks for the reply.
my other pontoon didn't have power assist just cable but was a 25 hp engine. And yes it is harder to steer to the left than the right which made me think i was fighting torque or something like that with the engine. it's not bad at all when going slow like in the no wake areas. I did try triming the engine up a little but didn't make any noticeable difference. I've driven other boats (bass boat) with cable steering that have larger engines than this and they were much easier to steer. Is it something that will get easier as the system wears in or is this how it's going to be?
my other pontoon didn't have power assist just cable but was a 25 hp engine. And yes it is harder to steer to the left than the right which made me think i was fighting torque or something like that with the engine. it's not bad at all when going slow like in the no wake areas. I did try triming the engine up a little but didn't make any noticeable difference. I've driven other boats (bass boat) with cable steering that have larger engines than this and they were much easier to steer. Is it something that will get easier as the system wears in or is this how it's going to be?
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Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
My experience is that a new cable is about as good as it gets. That said the old ones I replaced were probably horrible make anything a welcome improvement! There may be a bit of break in, only makes sense the new one would be tight.
Does the motor turn easily with the boat parked? It should be real easy then, if not I'd say you have a problem and your dealer should help. I know teleflex has different cable options so depending on what you have it might be worth a try. They offer an extreme version that's supposed to work with much more than 60 h.p.
Does the motor turn easily with the boat parked? It should be real easy then, if not I'd say you have a problem and your dealer should help. I know teleflex has different cable options so depending on what you have it might be worth a try. They offer an extreme version that's supposed to work with much more than 60 h.p.
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD
2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD
2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !
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Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Every year I pull the nut on right side of engine, turn motor to expose cable. I fill it with lithium grease. After 16 years it turns with a finger
Loyd & Betty Meeks
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
Livin the lake life
2004 Tracker 22 Regency/2010 90 E-Tec. Pulled by Ford 2020 F 250,
McAlester, Oklahoma
Home lake is Tenkiller
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
I had heard of this when mine seemed a bit stiff. The rod was not as lubed as I thought it should be - there was some grease but not a lot. Seems to have been smoother since.lakerunner wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:59 pm
Every year I pull the nut on right side of engine, turn motor to expose cable. I fill it with lithium grease. After 16 years it turns with a finger
Paul & Michele
2003 Landau DX 24' Cruise "Loretta Jane"
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"Don't waste brain cells over something you can do nothing about." --My Wife
2003 Landau DX 24' Cruise "Loretta Jane"
2003 Mercury 75hp
My Rebuild: http://pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26135
"Don't waste brain cells over something you can do nothing about." --My Wife
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
There’s a product that was called a widget that replaced the nut and it had a grease fitting on it to get grease in there. Other styles had a removable cap and you remove the cap and agg a bit of light oil and replace the cap. One shot of grease Avery few trips and no more problems. They are available in boating stores and on line.
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Does the boat try to turn right by itself? If so adusting trim tab may help...
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90 Merc Optimax
Motorguide W55 Wireless
Underskinning
28 GPS
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Speedo cable grease might work too. You can get a 10 pack of these little guys for $5 or so. Waterproof.
http://atpautomotive.com/speedometer-lubricant
http://atpautomotive.com/speedometer-lubricant
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Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
See, that's how my other pontoon was that I just sold. It was only 25 hp but you could turn it like it had power steering. This new one with a 60hp motor is getting to be a pain, i've got 8.5 hours on it and i'm ready to send it back to the factory. We live on a smaller lake so i'm turning the boat a lot and after an hour or so of boating my arms are done.lakerunner wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 4:59 pmEvery year I pull the nut on right side of engine, turn motor to expose cable. I fill it with lithium grease. After 16 years it turns with a finger
When I got the boat home and found that it was hard to steer, I put some grease on the exposed part of the cable as well as all the grease zerks on the engine mount. none of the zerks took much grease so it was pretty full.
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Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Does the motor turn easily both ways when parked?
2018 Tahoe ltz elite windshield powered by a 175 Mercury verado with sea legs
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD
2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !
Rebuilt custom 20' 1983 riviera cruiser tritoon SOLD
2017 crew cab F-350 gets me to the lake !
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Yes, it turns fine both ways and when moving at idle. as soon as you throttle up even 1/4 throttle it becomes very stiff and difficult to steer to the left, it steers easier to the right.
Re: Brand new Pontoon hard steering
Adjusting the trim tab might help a little. I've got mine all the way over.