2 replies to this topic

[vetteman]

Has anybody had any experience adjusting the self centering VTS feature on a 1996 Challenger... The manual talks about it very briefly and the diagram is very had to read.
From reading the description of operation in the shop manual, It seems to me that if the VTS control were placed fully retracted or extended while in forward, then the shifter moved to neutral, the VTS would try to self center. Now the VTS lever would be out of syc with the actual position of the Trim Nozzle. Am I missing something?

[Steve762us]

Has anybody had any experience adjusting the self centering VTS feature on a 1996 Challenger...

I've got a 1996 Challenger (since August 2007--it's my first money-hole ). The self-centering operation baffles me too...and the trim lever was essentially non-operative when I bought the boat.

I've tried a few things since August...

When I had the reverse bucket and nozzle assembly off the transom I loosened up the bushings on the trim nozzle just a bit, with some fine sandpaper--they were so stiff initially that I thought the trim linkage might break before the nozzle would rotate. The pivots are still tight, not flopply loose. I adjusted the short centering cable assy and the VTS linkage to the FSM spec.

I had a replacement SBT engine to break-in, and the trim nozzle worked fine while I was doing the initial trailer-mounted, stern-in-water break-in.

At some point, the bolt & nut holding the linkage to the VTS lever separated, and naturally the trim stopped varying...I just pulled the control lever assy out yesterday and found the nut missing. The bolt that was in there was pretty short, and didn't give much for the nut to grab onto...I got a replacement M6 x 30mm at Lowes last night. I'll see if the clearance will allow for that, and use some red loctite on it.

I'm of the opinion that the auto-centering feature was added as a recommendation by Seadoo's liability attorneys...and that it adds a new dimension of complication and probability of failure. I'd rather take responsibility for safe operation of the boat, including the trim lever, and HAVE a functional trim system.

I used a couple of nylon cable ties to bind the sliding blocks together (as they should be when the F-N-R lever is Forward). One tie went vertically thru a forward set of unused holes; the second I wrapped horizontally around the blocks and mounting plate.

Removing the centering cable (the ~15" cable from F-N-R lever to the "sliding blocks" below the VTS lever) would be the best course of action; I was running short on daylite, so I just backed off the tension on the centering cable so that it never exerts any tension on the sliding blocks.

This arrangement is giving me complete range-of-trim operation with the boat on the trailer...I hope to run her tomorrow and see how it works, where it counts!

[Steve762us]

Just to follow up...looks like the fix worked. Ran her around for a few hours, trim does affect ride in rough and smooth water...I need to get more time with it to learn what it can do, fully, but it is now functional.