7 replies to this topic

[charlieenz]

Hi Guys, my newly aquired 2007 c180 has a developed a really scarey steering problem. When you put her into a u-turn it starts off ok but all of a sudden gives a big lurch, almost as though it want's to tip on its side and I have to straighten it out and finish the turn real slowly. Quite frightening! I've only had the boat 6 weeks and prior to this it seemed to turn real smooth. I had a look at the steering nozzle / gate and it appears to move freely and nothing is loose. There is no water in the bilge or any weight that can shift and it happens real quick as if something just gives. Any ideas appreciated as i don't think this is normal or safe.
Cheers Charlie in New Zealand .P.S. The nearest service center is close to 5 hours drive away so not that easy to take it for a check.!

[Kevin Leclair]

Have you checked your streering cables? It seems like something is causing the nozzle to turn too far.

[charlieenz]

Have you checked your streering cables? It seems like something is causing the nozzle to turn too far.

Hi Kevin,

I'm not sure where or how to check that.
As a point of interest,I just had the boat serviced and on the printout it said "steering stops" checked but I asked them if they had adjusted anything and they said no. I think this is the first challenger they had seen as there are very few in New Zealand and these guys predominantly service Ski's.
However they are the only Seadoo rep in the South Island so I had no one else to as they also changedout the ceramic washers for me.

If you could give me a clue how to shorten the steering travel I'll give it a go.

Cheers and thanks

Charlie

[Kevin Leclair]

Take a look at this shop manual, http://seadoosportbo...mp;showfile=730, it should point you in the right direction.

[charlieenz]

Take a look at this shop manual, http://seadoosportbo...mp;showfile=730, it should point you in the right direction.

Thanks Kevin,
I'll check it out. Cheers Charlie in NZ

[charlieenz]

Hi again Kevin,

I think i'm on to the problem with the turning and also a drop in top speed I've also noticed.

The reverse bucket is not locking in position when you throw the lever forward. So i figure this is catching some of the thrust and slowing the boat down and also pulling it over in the turn.

I can give the bucket a small push and it clicks in but it won't do it by itself. I had a (very) small child accidently stand on the bucket when the boat was out of the water and my wife said it gave a "clunk" down and up but the clip is definitely not broken. It locks in Nuetral and reverse but not forward. I unscrewed the control end and can see the adjuster but am a bit loath to change this as I cant see how it would have changed bar some slack in the cable. I removed the fitting and tried pulling the cable to make it lock but this was very difficult so I think maybe its the bucket end that has the problem. Do you know the adjustment procedure to fix this? Cheers
Charlie

[Kevin Leclair]

Charlie,

I am glad you are making some progress on finding the root cause, unfortunately I don't know the procedure to adjust this since I have never tackled it before. I wouldn't want to give you the wrong information and make matters worse. I would recommend taking it to your dealer, explain to them your findings and let them resolve the issue.

[RichC]

Did you ever get this problem figured out? I have the same boat, same year, with the same problem. When it lurches, it's pretty scary. Just like you described, it feels like it is going to flip over.
But the reverse bucket appears to be well up and out of the way.