Steering controls

[jingjoseph]

Great site!!!! Very nice to have a chance to talk with Nitro owners!!!!
Have a 97 700lx dc its in great shape but out of the hole up to any speed
until trim is just right it pulls real bad to the right. Let go of the wheel and
its all over. Its all original from 97 everything on it is. I know nothings been
replaced on it. Parts for it very hard to find. Anyone have this problem and
found a fix? I did see something about a torque tab but not sure if just that
or cables also. Steering is hard even at idle.

[Ron Fogelson]

Welcome to Ultimatebass.com

It may be time to clean & lubricate or replace the cables but that isn't the reason it's pulling to the right.

A torque will help a little but the best true fix is to raise or lower the motor to help eliminate this.  If you don't have a jack plate this is going to be a pain.  What size motor do you have on it?  I would bet without even seeing it the motor is to low.

You can try trimming up as soon as you mash the gas to get up on pad, play with it to see how much and how fast you go to help remove the pull.

Let us know if you have a jackplate or not and what size motor and prop you have and the max rmp's and top end speed and we can help dial you in. 

[jingjoseph]

Hey Ron nice to meet ya!!!!!
This is a great site!! I think that little world thing below
baby bass works for pictures but not sure. Theres a lot I
dont know. Heard of jack plates also but no idea if I have
one. Please let me know if pics dont work. Its a force 120
and is a 97 everything on it is 97 even electronics. It will
make you work to hold the wheel until you get the trim
right but you cant stop messing with trim you know? Its
a constant battle. Right now all I have is the 97 rpm and
speed guage not noticed rpms since only been on the water
2 times but by myself it hit best can tell 58 mph. All the guages
are kinda jumpy thats what I saw trimmed out best could do.
It was stable then. Jack plate I guess didnt come with 97 modle
boats right? Heres how dumb I am. Just figured out what a transom
is last week. I might need to make a donation having hard time
with this stuff.

[Ron Fogelson]

Nope no jack plate there.

I also noticed the whale tail, those will help hole shot on a boat that isn't set up 100% with setback and or height and can help plane out faster for shallow water or plane out at lower speeds if you are going to tow tubes or whatnot.

Id start with a torque tab and cleaning then lubricating the cables, most basspro or nitro dealers should still be able to get you most parts you might need if not Tracker Marine should be able to point you in the right direction for your area. http://nitroboats.com/about/contact.cfm

Customer Relations
(417) 873-4555
Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST

or
Mercury Marine
(920) 929-5040

[jingjoseph]

Thanks.. That tail was on it when bought.
Check with tracker right now. Jack plate
do you think its worth the expense on this
boat? I see how much it helps but its a 97.
Not sure if it would degrade the transom
or what not. Not sure how to explain.
Make it weeker?

[Ron Fogelson]

If your transom is good the right jackplate won't hurt it.

I'd say a 6inch would do you a world of good, but, there is always a but  once you start playing with it you might find a need for a better prop going up or down in size to get the best performance out of it.  but that's part of owning a boat and making it yours by setting it up the way you want.

Taking off the whale tail, going down in prop size if the boat won't jump up on plan without it and using a torque tab will help along with trying to adjust your trim as you get on pad but you will have to play with that.  Maybe you don't trim it all the way down or maybe you trim as soon as you give it gas or maybe you trim a little wait a little while and trim a lot,,,,,, you will have to find the best way to work the trim as you learn the boat.

Also you can get a few friends over, trim up or down on your motor to make it level put some blocks on each side under the tab just above your prop and put a jack under the skag and as your friends keep the motor from tipping unbolt it and then jack it up to the next hole in the motor so it sits higher.  Would be safer to do this with a hoist that is able to carry the full load of the motor but if you can't get one of those it can be done with enough manpower,,,, just have a plan incase it falls hate to see it rip out your fuel lines, throttle and steering as it hits the ground.

[jingjoseph]

Ron your good, real good.Your right on spot about playing with trim. Only on the water 3
times so far and play and play with trim. "but that's part of owning a boat and making it yours by setting it up the way you want". Very true. Thanks much for advice and undertand 100% now.
Thank you much!!!!