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Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

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George Emmanuel
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Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Post by George Emmanuel » Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:08 pm

It has been 10years since I disassembled the 17' Sportsman for the restoration and am now finishing it up. I've reinstalled the steering gear and connected the linkage. But the question is "How tight do you adjust the adjustment screw in the tie rod end? Just enough pressure to remove slop or more?

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Bilge Rat
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Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:21 am

You want to take up any slop without causing a binding condition that could impair smooth steering wheel action. As I recall, there's a place for a cotter pin in the drag link so the adjustment cap cannot back itself out. This fitting should be liberally greased as well to keep motion smooth and fight corrosion. I recall its an adjust, turn the wheel lock-to-lock verifying smooth steering and adjust till steering wheel lost motion is gone.
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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maritimeclassics
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Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Post by maritimeclassics » Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:22 am

I always tighten them pass touching the ball about a full turn or so, it shouldn't bind though. You need to make sure its not going to force itself forward when steering and come out the hole. Put grease in it before you assemble it and definitely put the cotter pin in the end so the nut doesn't back it self out.
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Restoration Projects:
1936 25' Gar Wood Custom
1947 Ventnor Hydroplane
1957 17' Deluxe Runabout
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman Twin
1959 19' Sliver Arrow Hull #75
1929 26' Chris Craft Custom Runabout
1937 25' Chris Craft Custom Runabout

George Emmanuel
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 7:44 am
Location: Gainesville, Florida
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Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Post by George Emmanuel » Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:35 pm

Thanks!--That's what I did based on how I felt it should be,---just needed confirmation. I did grease everything using OMC's Triple Guard and had cleaned all the threads to the adjusting nut and coated that area liberally with anti-seize.

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Bilge Rat
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Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Post by Bilge Rat » Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:27 am

Sounds like it will be good for another 60 years!
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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