New Owner Scarab II Question
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Owner Scarab II Question
Picked up a nice 1982 Scarab II out of the Chicago area and brought it down to here to SE Florida a few months ago. Just getting everything dialed in now. My concern is that at WOT the boat seems to get overly "squirrely;" almost as if there is play in the steering. It feels as if a minor input in the wheel creates significant oversteer and then the bow plants and it feels like it could easily get out of control. This is on smooth ICW water. Just wondering if this is normal or something I should investigate. It has T454 330's and TRS outdrives, power steering, quicksilver 3 blade stainless props. Any direction would be appreciated.
Last edited by 1212; 02-13-2010 at 05:42 PM.
#2
Registered
iTrader: (3)
Could be a few things. I would first check your gimbals. See how worn out they are. Check up and down, and side to side play. Also, check for cable slop, or any other worn parts on the steering system on the inside of the transom. Sometimes the pin that attaches to the tiller arm gets really loose and worn out
After owning boats with full hydraulic steering, i would never go back to the old cable style.
After owning boats with full hydraulic steering, i would never go back to the old cable style.
#3
Registered
Could be a few things. I would first check your gimbals. See how worn out they are. Check up and down, and side to side play. Also, check for cable slop, or any other worn parts on the steering system on the inside of the transom. Sometimes the pin that attaches to the tiller arm gets really loose and worn out
After owning boats with full hydraulic steering, i would never go back to the old cable style.
After owning boats with full hydraulic steering, i would never go back to the old cable style.
#4
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks for the replys! now, can i determine gimbal play by just grabbing ahold of the outdrive and checking for excessive movement up/down, left/right or is it more involved? ill get in the engine compartment and check the other things as well. tie bar looks to be solid, ball joint ends are mint and all hardware seems to be tight.
#5
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the outdrives seem to be tight. the port side has about 1-2mm play if I lift up on it, the right seems to have none. dont know if this is an issue or not. on the transom side, the steering seems to have a little play where the cable attaches to the power steering mechanism. the big giant bolt in the center of this photo is what i am referencing. seems to have about .25" play in both directions.
#6
VIP Member
VIP Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scarab II steering
I have had Scarab II for a long time and am very satisfied with it. The cost repairing cumulative wear and the upkeep on the internal steering is more or as much as going to hydraulic steering. I found steering to be more of an issue in calm water than rough. I also found it only gets worse. Ford once used a similar design for power steering and abandoned it for the same reasons.
#8
VIP Member
VIP Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Scarab steering
The props are spinning out. At first steering became a bit unstable after 60 mph. I decided on watchful waiting while I researched the problem. About every 50 hours of operation speed at which things became unstable dropped 10 mph. By the time I was having problems at over 40 I had located enough parts to make hydrualic steering. The most difficult part was removing the old system and installing the new helm.
I still have the old parts and individually they are not in bad shape; however when assembled there is significant slop in the system
I still have the old parts and individually they are not in bad shape; however when assembled there is significant slop in the system
#9
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sounds like the solution is going to be hydraulic steering. im not ready for the financial commitment to that project just yet as the boat, manifolds, risers, and waterpumps put a dent in the upgrade fund. hopefully it will stay together until i regroup!