3 replies to this topic

[exxent]

I have had my challenger 2000's (2001/240HP) for four years, and I love it, it has been trouble free till now, my steering has been getting harder to turn, and I purchased a new cable and was getting ready to replace it, but I took it out one more time before changing it, and I had the boat full of people and was pulling a skiier and I took a hard turn and the steering wheel made several loud clicks like the teeth on the gears were skipping, and the steering wheel now is off center when I'm steering straight ahead, I shut her down and put her back on the trailer, she was steering properly as I put her back on the trailer. I plan on changing the steering cable, but I'm worried about the steering rack, or the steering wheel, is it possible that i might have damaged either of them? Also, does anyone have any advise about changing the steering cable, I purchased the Sea Doo manual, but they are telling me that I also need the Mercury manual for the motor and jet, where do I find that?, does anyone have that in pdf format? Thanks for any help or advise on this matter, I'm looking foreward to getting her back out on the river.

[no1stumper]

email me with motor type and model. also when changing that cable, make note f each ones legnth. As for the clicking sound, when my steering is off its usually the cable, I would install the new one and go form there.

[exxent]

The Boat is a 2001 Challenger, and the motor is a Mercury M2 240 HP jet Drive, hopefully this will help. Thanks

email me with motor type and model. also when changing that cable, make note f each ones legnth. As for the clicking sound, when my steering is off its usually the cable, I would install the new one and go form there.

[KearneyTerry]

I had the same problem with my 1999 twin Rotax 800's. Steering was very stiff. The torque I needed to turn the wheel stripped 1 tooth off the steering rack. Has the same symptoms as you, clicks when turning, wheel not centred. Will pass the broken tooth not under load, but underway I'd loose steering. Had to replace the rack. $150. Easy fix, you can do it yourself. The root cause of the stiff steering was a stiff bushing on 1 of the output nozzles. Simply loosened the 2 bolts on the nozzle pivot, worked it back & forth a bit to loosen it up and retightened. Could've saved me some change if I hadn't ignored the stiff steering in the first place. Cable was OK. All is good now.