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Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:08 pm
by George Emmanuel
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?

Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:21 am
by Bilge Rat
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.

Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:22 am
by maritimeclassics
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.

Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:35 pm
by George Emmanuel
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.

Re: Tie rod to pitman arm adjustment

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:27 am
by Bilge Rat
Sounds like it will be good for another 60 years!