MacGregorSailors.com

26X 2002
Coming in to port, I noticed it was becoming progressively more difficult to steer. Took a lot of force! I raised each rudder in turn to ensure no obstructions, then tightened each down forcefully... came in very slowly at about 2 knots... Wheel would seize up and to get it to turn I had to put a LOT of force into it, then it would snap and then allow steerage. Once in port, it was completely stuck. I inspected everything and saw no obstructions, jumped in the water and saw nothing (except fractures on the starboard rudder at the pivot point) then tried to force the wheel to see where the problem was. It snapped, louder than before and now the wheel spins freely with no resistance or affect on the rudders or engine.
Any suggestions?
I've taken off the steering console smoky plastic side with throttle remote but don't see anything obviously broken.

If you see nothing visibly broken in the steering linkage at the rear then there are two probable things that could break.
If your locky the shear pin on your wheel is gone. To check this you'll need to pull the steering wheel off (but you'll need to if its anything else0
The second and in my opinion more likely cause is a snapped steering line. If it was an internal failure of the steering box you would likely have some clicking or other indications of failure prior to a snap.

As far as trouble shooting, can you freely swing the motor and rudders from side to side after the snap or are they locked up?

sounds like your steering cable just broke, not the cable per say, but the windings on the cable inside and or the teeth in the steering unit (thats what engages the steering gear from the wheel). Either way its time to change the steering cable.
Didnt you notice the steering over time getting harder and harder to turn? cable froze up, the pressure you applied to the wheel broke the windings. Best guess without seeing the boat.

Disconnect the motor, move the motor side to side, see if its free, if not your motor froze from corrosion, and you broke the steering cable fighting it. Like I said either way the cable now has to be changed.
if the motor is free you only have one thing to fix, By the way a cable is a hundred or so bucks, a new steering system is a couple hundred, I would change the whole steering system now. The teeth on the old steering are probably worn or broken now too.
Let us know when you find the problem..
Mike

Without a doubt, you have broke your steering cable. I also have a 2000 26x. Every 2 years I disassemble the steering cable at the transom end and clean and lube the cable. In salt water, it should probably been cleaned and greased every year.

I have never replaced my steering cable, but this topic has been discussed here often.

Remove the cable from the boat, take it to the closest boat shop for replacement.

Good Luck..

I can almost guarantee that if the cable broke so did the teeth on the steering unit, or at least chipped them. replacing a stiff cable is one thing but when it pops and goes free some damage to all the parts happens. If the teeth on the gear are chipped or bent they will score up a new cable pretty fast and eventually fail again, let alone the chance of a tooth breaking off and jamming the steering in the worst place that can happen. For the money its safer to change the whole unit, not just the cable. Thats what I would do any way.....
Mike

There are two kinds of Mac owners.... those who have repalced the steering cable and those that will I did mine at the beginning of last season.
The best advise is to plan on replacing the hole assembly.

I'm at Caso Rio also (up on the hard) let me know if you need a hand

Jim

Jollymon,

Sounds like you prolly stripped your rack & pinion gears. Check out this thread which has some pics of those items.

Steering Broke

You can find replacement systems at Go2Marine.

Good Luck,
Jim

jollymon2002 wrote:26X 2002
Coming in to port, I noticed it was becoming progressively more difficult to steer. Took a lot of force! I raised each rudder in turn to ensure no obstructions, then tightened each down forcefully... came in very slowly at about 2 knots... Wheel would seize up and to get it to turn I had to put a LOT of force into it, then it would snap and then allow steerage. Once in port, it was completely stuck. I inspected everything and saw no obstructions, jumped in the water and saw nothing (except fractures on the starboard rudder at the pivot point) then tried to force the wheel to see where the problem was. It snapped, louder than before and now the wheel spins freely with no resistance or affect on the rudders or engine.
Any suggestions?
I've taken off the steering console smoky plastic side with throttle remote but don't see anything obviously broken.

Sorry to hear your problems, Jolly Mon - glad you made it back into the slip without any obvious structural damage.

If I can help, I'd be glad to ... Bossa Nova is at Casa Rio as well. Can bring tools, beer and moral support.

Mine did exactly the same thing. Started being a little sticky, a little force 'fixed'it. Next time, a bit harder etc, etc then eventually, NO steering. I replaced the whole steering assembly and now no problems.

Hey thanks a lot you guys. I really appreciate the suggestions and moral support!
While the Mac is stuck in dock, I'm actually being really productive, doing maintenance and fixing things I've meant to fix but never go to until now.
Thanks again.
-Jollymon

sounds like you are going to be stripping out the rack and pinion and reassembling it,mines went last year in a similar manner to what you have described,when i took the unit apart,i found that the teeth on the part with the cable had broken off.I upgraded mine to a higher rated unit,i got lucky at a boat jumble sale and managed to pick up a unit at a quarter of the normal price.