OMC Tilt Pin

[labrador-guy]

Has anyone tried to bore an OMC tilt pin hole out to 7/8"? So you can use the tele-flex steering system. I have a 63 big twin and been thinking about do that. I think I can build a control hook up link. This motor will be down this fall for clean and paint. Any thoughts?

dale

[chinewalker]

There are plastic bushings in there that are generally pretty brittle. The way the castings are made may prevent you from getting the diameter you need for a tilt tube and also maintaining enough beef on the casting to support the motor.

They do make a transom mounted bracket that will support the cable. I think there are two versions – one clamps under the motor thumbscrews and uses a faux tilt tube with the tie arm, and the other uses a ball joint deal that has the cable end connecting to a bracket on the motor.

[dan-in-tn]

You & I think alike! Chinewalker may be right. I haven’t looked into it yet, but you need enough strength left for impact support. The late model 28SPL motor has a tilt tube for the steering and I was unable to use it on a Boston Whaler due to the curved transom. I used a dual steering setup (bass boats) to put the other tube out front. That worked well. Something like that could be done, but not sure that would be any better than what Chinewalker is talking about. I was able to use a standard drag link with that setup was the only advantage.

Dan in TN

[amuller]

I’m working on a boat now with pre-tilt-tube motor and the cable supported by a ball-and-socket bracket fastened to the transom. It seems to work, but to me the bracket seems too high on the transom and bends the cable more than need be. Is there guidance around on how to position the cable vis-a-vis the motor?

[frankr]

Believe me, I’ve seen and rigged a lot of boats with Teleflex push-pull steering back in "the Day". And none of them were satisfactory in my opinion. #1, the cable travel is too short to provide full hardover to hardover steering arc. And #2 it is almost impossible to get them set up to allow full motor tilting without bending something. Yeah, yeah, I know, just don’t tilt it all the way. Until you hit an underwater obstruction at 30 MPH.
Somethin’s gonna tear up.

EDIT: Understand, I am speaking of motors without tlt-tube steering here.

[amuller]

OK, thanks. When did push-pull steering become the norm compared to tilt-tubes on motors? Seems that they sort of need to go together. I think the geometry of this one will be better with the bracket lowered 2-3 inches.

[frankr]

Well of course Merc used tilt tubes way back. I suppose they probably invented it. OMC and others were way late in putting it on their motors and not all models at the same time. I suppose in general speak, 1970’s

[dan-in-tn]

First motor I remember it on is 1973 V-4s with TNT. OMC was behind on TNT also, but that is about the time the tilt tube came along.
How many of you have run stick steering? Steering on one side of the boat & control box on the other. The first ones I remember were EldoCrafts. 50hp Johnson on long narrow bass boats of the day. You had to be able to rub your belly & pat your head at the same time to drive one. Especially when driving on the trailer. We have come a long way!

Dan in TN

[frankr]

I didn’t get run it but one of our customers hat a true stick steering on his home made boat. A wooden stick with a pivot bolt on the bottom end and links to the motor. I thought it was pretty cool.

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