Steering alignment problem

[Bigfoot2]

A strange thing happened yesterday.. when leaving the boat, I always point the engines (Honda 225s) straight ahead, then tilt them up.
Most of the time they stay like that and the next day they are still pointing straight ahead, but sometimes they lean over to the side (both pointing the same direction)- up against the hull and against the dive ladder.
Yesterday, I got to the boat and the port engine was leaning toward port and the starboard engine was leaning toward starboard. When I lowered them and started the engine, you could tell they were not aligned correctly - maybe 45 degrees off. I only had a little steering - since one engine would hit it's limit when turning a little to port then the other would quickly hit the limit when turning the other way.

I was going to take it over to my dealer - figuring I could always steer with the throttles.. but after a few minutes, it corrected itself. They seem to be pointing pretty much to the correct place and the boat handles nicely.

Is this something to worry about? What is the correct way to aim the engines before tilting them up?

[Greg Manning]

Tilt them up at least half way and turn hard to port or starboard....then open and close the tie valve in the access port between the engines. They will now be aligned. For storage either have them all the way down and straight or tilt them up and leave them hard port or starboard.

[Bigfoot2]

thanks.

[keywest49]

One of your rams is by passing fluid. The fact that they return to alignment is a confirmation one is by passing fluid.

Call teleflex for the procedure to isolate the defective ram.

[Harry Brosofsky]

That is one possibility, but there are two others...one is that there is a lot of air in the cylinder, and the other is that the alignment valve is bypassing.

Harry

[catgolfer1]

I had the exact thing happen this last weekend. I trimmed up the motors, and when I came back the starbord motor was tilted all the way to starbord and the port motor stayed straight. when I trimmed the motors down and turned the wheel the motors aligned perfectly. I've never had that happen in 6 years. Where do you start. Is a call to teleflex the place to start, and can they explain to a good mechanic (not me) how to handle the problems specific to world cat?

[conehead39]

Quick and dirty method.
As you crank over the engines with starter look back at the engines.
The one that wobbles the most is bypassing or has air.You can also pull the plastic safety ignition kill switch
and get more cranking rpm. As the engine goes thru compression strokes it will kick back and forth slightly.

Then shut them down. Turn the wheel hard over left and exert high wheel turning force.
Look at the ram cylinder gland seals and see if it is leaking any fluid.
Turn hard over right with heavy bottomed out force. Inspect seals again.
You can also look for fittings and hoses leaking.

If it is leaking any fluid from gland seals it could also be leaking air into the cylinder/system.

[Harry Brosofsky]

Where do you start. Is a call to teleflex the place to start, and can they explain to a good mechanic (not me) how to handle the problems specific to world cat?

It's not a Worldcat specific issue. It is an issue with any boat, but because many cats (not just Worldcats) have multiple engines without a rigid tie bar, it is more noticeable.

Harry

[catgolfer1]

Sorry for implying it was a World Cat specific problem. For me, the World Cat is a great boat. And also, thanks for those of you that have expertise and share it on this forum. I don't post much, but I read most of them and find it very helpful in keeping my boat maintained and dealing with problems before they arise.