Speedster 200 - Does not turn hard to port

[Cerberus]

Hello All,

as subject alludes to, my 'new' (new to me!) 2004 speedster 200 turns great to starboard but to port, it is a nonchalant lazy curve . It is so wide that in one spot in Crystal River, Fl, I almost could NOT safely turn to port . (boat was going WAY outside both sets of channel markers (100 ft wide turn at least)). Now to starboard... that is a blast and spins on a dime (nearly) and being able to hang onto the driver's rail for extra support was extra but I'd like to go LEFT as well as right sometime soon :driving:.

I have looked at the nozzles and both sets seem to travel max left and right (they both bump against the 'stop knot' on the pump housing [venturi]). To clarify, when I steer to port, the port steering nozzle moves as far to the left as it can, as for the starboard nozzle... not as much.

Here is my first question, should I adjust the link rod 'inward' (causing both nozzles centerline to move toward each other) to allow the starboard nozzle to move further to the left when I am turning left? or, failing my logic, what would you recommend...

Thanks!

BTW, I am fully self actualized and comfortable with basic maintenance. Oh, also I usually WAAAY over analyze any situation, although after spending $$$$ to get this boat into shape, I currently have none left to fix any 'OH $H!T' moments so maybe this is the right attitude to start out with.

 

[timmyboy76]

Yah, start with steering wheel in "neutral position", then take gander at nozzle positions. Sounds like something got wacky and/or out alignment. May be need to adjust tension in cable/s....

 

[Cerberus]

Thank you, We got some potentially heavy storms coming in for the next few days here, so I put the cover on and put it back in storage (I'm deed restricted) but I will check the steering and go from there ASAP (early next week).

Thanks!

 

[Gunsrunner]

You will find that they will never turn as well to port as they do to starboard, it has something to do with the thrust from the jet pumps and the flow of water. I find with mine i can do great spins to starboard but to port it slides the back out but not as tight.
Yours does sound like it needs adjustment, but i don't think you can ever get it to be the same both ways! In other words the more you adjust nozzles to the left the less turning you will have to the right!!

 

[Cerberus]

Yea, I was wundering if that might be true and so it sounds like it is. I pulled the boat back to my house Monday, it was georgeous out and that night the temp dropped by 30 degrees! :ack: This morning I am 8 degrees above freezing! So I have avoided working on the boat so far (I HATE cold hands on cold steel)... end of week now should have me back in the mid 70's so I will do it then or the boat goes back to storage

 

[vilord]

I think your on the right track with the centerline adjustment, just make sure that both jets will also go all the way starboard... and that center is still center

Keep in mind that adjusting the center link will change the way the boat handles when going straight too... ie it might be more prone to wandering... or it might be better.

 

[kustomkarl]

My 2008 speedster 200 does the similar... I have double checked the nozzles and it is the nature of the beast. I even attempted to over exaggerate the adjustment to see what it did, and it was only worse, so I set it back to oem spec...

Karl

 

[Cerberus]

My 2008 speedster 200 does the similar... I have double checked the nozzles and it is the nature of the beast. I even attempted to over exaggerate the adjustment to see what it did, and it was only worse, so I set it back to oem spec...

Karl

Thanks for this post. I recentered the steering from the rear and while I was there I also 'lengthened' the connection rod distance a bit (well... at least 10 turns, probably close to 1") and I then read this and put the rod length back the way it was.

It will go back in the water tomorrow (if I can vote 'in time' for a good tide (we are getting later and later in the evening for a beach launch) or Wednesday to 'test' it all out. I no longer want a 'perfect slide' to each side, but I would settle for a more aggressive turn to port, which the adjustment I hope will provide.

Thanks Again!

 

[kustomkarl]

Keep us posted on your progress...

Karl

 

[Gunsrunner]

Found this today, thank's to Group K for the info!!:cheers:
In high speed "left hand" turns, the water enters the pump cavity at an angle that is "unfriendly" to the rotation of the prop. The result is that engine rpms will drop significantly from this added "load". Conversely, turning right at high speed causes the water to enter the pump at an angle that allows the prop to process water very easily. The load reduction caused by this "favorably" entering water can be so profound that the engine rpms raise significantly, and cavitation is often induced.

 

[Cerberus]

Keep us posted on your progress...

Karl

I should be putting out to sea today!!! Weather has been GORGEOUS up here lately but I have been jet skiing :blush: with a buddy... A bit quicker to get in and out and I justified it to myself by saying that I feel better about killing just 20 Gal of gas a day, vs. 40 in the speedster.

I put the battery on a trickle charge yesterday and after something along the lines of 12+ hours later (overnight), she is full. Will keep us all updated, but to recap, I did make an adjustment a while back to the steering and we shall see if it is that is what was necessary..

Cerb

 

[Cerberus]

Well it was not the exact sucess I had hoped for but that was not for a lack of trying. She does turn BETTER to port now, but I think the issue now might be I need a new wear ring :banghead:... when I turn to port (Hard) I lose quite a lot of thrust... I don't know if I can get a new ring and put it in before she goes out again (this week for New Years) but I am somewhat hopeful. I will call my guy today and see if he has one... Thanks again everyone for your patience and help.

Cerb

 

[Cerberus]

New wear ring was installed yesterday . Just need to seal the housing 'thing' together to finish this repair up and I should be out again tommorrow.

The existing wear ring was COMPLETELY obliterated. Of the total length of the inside of the old one, more than the bottom HALF was down to the white part :redface: I hope it all will be solved now and I can FULLY enjoy my toy.

Cerb

 

[scooper77515]

With a new wear ring, you will be very surprised at how well the boat takes off, and your steering will improve, but you will still "stall out" when you turn one way and not the other, due to the physics explained early in this thread.

 

[Cerberus]

Thar she works!

Thank you to all for your help with this issue. I got the boat out for a while today (Went from Tarpon Springs to Clearwater Beach) and the new wear ring made such a difference. Boat said it hit 60 at one point but that is from the speedometer so I doubt it but it probably was above 50 so that is a marked improvement from the 40-45 max (Speedo)!

Also the steering was better; still not to what I would expect (personal impression of what it SHOULD be) but a THOUSAND times better than it was so I would consider this thread compete and closed.

Thanks again!
Cerb

 

[scooper77515]

Take a GPS with you. I bet you are pleasantly surprised at how accurate those speedos are. Not dead on, but likely not 10mph off either.

I did it on my XP, speedo said close to 60, I took GPS out and was hitting around 56 or so. Still pretty damned fast on that small a ski, that low to the water. :reddevil:

I wussed out after about 3 seconds of full-throttle.

Glad to hear yours is up and running like you want it to!:hurray::hurray::hurray:

EDIT--Sorry, looking up old threads, and didn't think that I shouldn't be replying to them this late in the game :rofl: