Steering of the M

[KaiSchuler]

Hi guys:

Recently, someone posted a little piece from an older MacGregor factory website about the steering system.

I quote:
STEERING. The cable and drum steering has been replaced with a very strong rack and pinion system (with a safe working load at the tiller of 2000 pounds, as opposed to the old system with a safe working load of 300 pounds.) These new units are extremely strong and durable. They are easier to install and service, and offer much smoother steering. We have raised the height of the pedestal to take the longer rack. The new units are long and thin, and take up a lot less rome inside of the pedestal.

Now I am a bit confused (has happened before ) So the steering was changed from a cable to a rack-and-pinion. But when I look at my M, there are certainly cables involved. Does this mean theay went back to cable-and-drum? Or maybe I do not fully understand the steering system.

Maybe someon on the list can explain this a little better, maybe there is even some sort of technical description/drawing/etc available relative to the steering system of a 2005 M


I thank you very much for your responses!

Best regards,
Kai

[dclark]

The old system was a rotary steering system which didn't require the pedestal to be as high. The Rack doesn't fit in the old one, so they made it a bit higer when they changed over. Consequently older X's are kinda stuck with the rotary helm. Either that or replace/modify the pedestal.

[dclark]

That only applies to the X. I believe the M has always had the rack.

[Moe]

Whether your pedestal contains a rack and pinion unit, where a cable runs from the end of the rack to the outboard, or whether you have a cable and drum unit, where the cable from the outboard wraps around a drum in the pedestal, you still have a cable between the steering unit in the pedestal and the outboard.

Just because MacGregor says it's stronger doesn't mean the rack is bulletproof. If it's hard to turn stop using it and find out what's wrong. Read this thread.
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Moe

[Moe]

Greasing the rack sure can't hurt, but from what I read here, the problem is usually at the other end of the cable.

Mark Prouty, did you ever try this?

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Moe