Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Ok Formula family , I hope someone can enlighten me on this issue. Since I've severely overpowered my 1989 272 I could use hydraulic steering. Standing behind the boat and eye balling the situation , it looks like the Silent Thunder center two exhaust outlets could interfere it twin ram center mounted hyd. steering rams when tilting the outdrives up :( .
Anybody have this arrangement? And does the cover plate on the OD mount the rams in a slightly lower position than any others. I believe I've seen different plates with higher or lower mounting points on the drive :confused:
What kind do you have that works?

T.I.A.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Dump the Silent Thunder....

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

The Kaama option came with hydraulic steering.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

That's nice but I don't see any Silent Thunder :confused:. You have all the room in the world with that setup :cool:


Formula Outlaw, Nice idea but I like the looks and the Noise Nazis are getting worse every day :mad:. So why just give myself more grief :rolleyes:
You should see the thread about noise laws started by Biggus on Winnipesaukee.com :eek:. They got some REAL tight a$$e$ up there , particularly Madrasahs and LRSLA. They almost sound like the same person who detests "go fasts" and would like to see them banned from the planet earth :hothead:. LRSLA also had some real nice words about us on OSO. Like they way we support drinking and boating , not to metion the way we refer to smaller slower boats as "speed bumps":eek: .

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

The rams will be mounted even with the pivot point on the drive. From there you will have to look at all the different options for mounting them on the drive itself. I am assuming you have a bravo? If so you can get set ups that mount on the top, back, and belhousing. You can call places like IMCO, and so on and ask them if they have any solutions that will work.

Jon

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Oh ya and most of the Formula's that I know of can not trim up all the way with the external steering. They will hit the bottom of the platform.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Ah HA! That's what I thought :( CHIT! Thanks Jon

I guess it's just a matter of finding the lowest mount brackets for a Bravo so it hits the least.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I wonder if you can adjust your trim limit so that it will not hit the swim platform?

Jon

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

The trim limit switch is WELL before anything would hit. This is generally all the higher I go...even when trailering. Just that sooner or later you and I both know sombody is going to :rolleyes:
My biggest fear is that the power of 4 trim rams could more than just mark the platform but break it :eek:

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

We ARE fortunate not to have to worry about the "noise nazis" here. Just the damn "manatee zones". 90% of the boats here run straight thru hulls. Noise is beautiful.

I have spent some time on that LSLRA web site. What a bunch of moronic idiots. All time classic "I don't like it so you can't do it" syndrome. But it's fine he shrieks the chit out of those snow sleds.
I sent them a "constructive criticism" email. I highly doubt I will be getting a xmas card from him. I told him that I thought the only purpose he served on the planet Earth, was to bait a crab trap.

And while the "performance" boating segment seems to attract the headlines, statistically speaking we are, BY FAR, the safest group out there.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I installed Marine Machine external steering on my '89 F311SR1 with Silent Thunder platform. It did not hit when trimmed up to trailer. Their steering system uses wing plates. I flipped mine over to lower the attachment point. Used the drive shaft location (X) for vertical location of rams. After that it was mock up and look at everything with drives trimmed and turned in various combinations. Yes one SS braided hose did rub one corner of the inside of the center pod of the platform. The handling difference is enormous. Do not do the outside only type of system, go ahead and do the full system from the helm. Good luck, Joe Murray.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I have IMCO on mine and it works like a dream, its a bit close and i broke a line, but easily fixable, just dont crank the wheel when in trailer mode or totally timmed up (learned the hard way) but learned none the less. I have silent thunder as well...Rob

The pic is of the drives in trailer with the shrinkwrap pulled away, so that should give you an idea.

Re: Generic Viagra & Generic Cialis for $25 (trial pack offer) at eDrugOnline.com. Call 8
 

Perfect! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I been looking at the Hydraulic also ...anyone know if I could go Hydro from helm back to internal ram ....and then maybe next year go external ? Cuda ... I saw a thread where you guys were talking about using both pumps ...seems it was a year or so ago ....

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

mopower, I have hydr external steering on my 272SR1 and it won't hit if the drives are straight. I used the IMCO system with the rams installed in between the drives. The photo attached is without the Silent Thunder however I initially had it on with it. My initial plan was to taper the inside corners of the center section of the ST platform however when it didn't hit I just left it alone.

From memory it was very close with the stringer for the bolts but I can take measurements for you if will help.

By the way how fast is it?

Ian T.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Cay, Thanks for the advice. Since a number of these will work ,it'll come down to price more than likely. Except for Imco there guarentees tend to suck.

How fast is it?...well , 80 untrimmed and still had throttle. Try to bring the trim up and it starts to get real squirrelly :( . I got to keep a lot of boat in the water to go straight. Get some steering and trimmed up , next season could see 85 maybe 90. Oh yeah , I'm adding Canfield Aluminum heads this winter too. My Merlins are too big and the port velocity is too low to get a good charge unless I spin them to the moon.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Talked to Imco yesterday ....3600 or 4200 with tilt wheel .....Ouch !

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I want to keep it under 3500 if possible...and I mean as far under 3500 as possible :rolleyes:

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I only did the add on system so it wasn't quite so expensive. I notices the greatest improvements in stability when I replaced my gimbals, make sure they are very tight. Even so you are in for a fun ride. I run 93 with just about neutral trim, full fuel and two people.

What was your final HP? Have you considered modifying the ST platform and installing some other kind of noise control? I picked up 7mph when I removed the ST platform and I am sure it was from exhaust improvements. I am convinced that my exhaust and carb are limiting my HP.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Last years hp was 638@5800

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Offshore - Is this your boat? I almost bought it last year when I was searching.

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

Yep thats it. John in woodbridge was the previous owner. It handles great, I did some minor stuff to it. Only major problem was a dented oil pan that has some rust so I had my guy pull the motor and replace the pan. some wiring upgrades as well, battery switches, now have two as it should be... Just curious, when you looked at it, what made you not buy it?...Rob

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I had arranged with John for me to see his boat last December (2003). We were all set for me to drive down from Michigan and then Virginia got hit with a huge snow storm. John couldn't wait any longer to winterize and we just never got back together in the spring. Do you know if he got the Black Thunder he was looking at?

Re: Hyd. Steering in older Bird?
 

I dont think he did, unfortunatly his marriage was heading south, So he did the smart thing and liquidated and will get back in later. He has great freinds with boats to use.Last I heard from him, his new business was doing great, he will be back out in time though. I love this boat just have 10ft-itis, I may be heading to FLA in the next couple weeks to check one out.