Hydraulic steering question: " Using a close 7" Cylinder" | F1 or Mod Vp Guys?

**Pachanga_rick** · 06-10-2016, 10:00 AM

I bought some parts off a Mod VP guy and the steering cylinder is a 7" stroke.

Using a normal tilt pin and wing plate (Merc 3liter) I don't have nearly enough movement.

I looked online and found "Close" steering kit last night and no cannot find any info on that this morning.

From the looks of the small 7" travel I would need a longer tilt pin to change the angle and move the wing plate mount hole closer to the engine.. does this sound right? anyone have pictures of such a system?

This is keeping me from running this weekend.

**Pachanga_rick** · 06-10-2016, 11:17 AM

The top is how it should look with a standard 9" throw cylinder. I'm thing about making a plate that sweeps back and out thus reducing the throw needed to turn the motor... I Think ?

I tried moving it in and under the plate but I cant move it in far enough to get a full lock without it hitting the mid-section bracket.

Cutting a plate is cheaper and quicker than ordering another cylinder.

Click image for larger version.

Name: Plate.jpg
Views: 27
Size: 14.2 KB
ID: 345604

**Todd D** · 06-10-2016, 09:14 PM

You can mix and match rams and plates.

Imco has the hole closest to the transom
Latham is 2" further from the transom
Marine machine is 2" further than latham.

Hope this helps.

Post a pic of your ram and plate

**Pachanga_rick** · 06-13-2016, 10:21 AM

Issue was my wing plate is made for a 9" ram and I have a 7" unit.. so I cut a new smaller plate moving the ram closer to the motor and back towards the mid-section to reduce the throw needed in turning.

I also eliminated the horse show clamp bolting the steering to just one side. Very clean and simple, but still burnt up the better part of my work day.

**Todd D** · 06-13-2016, 10:26 AM

Different manufacturers attach the cylinders to the pins in different lengths and also have different length adapters on the end of the rods to the plates. Mixing and matching usually fixes the problems

**Todd D** · 06-13-2016, 10:27 AM

So my guess is you had either imco on hynautic rams

**Pachanga_rick** · 06-13-2016, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Todd D

Different manufacturers attach the cylinders to the pins in different lengths and also have different length adapters on the end of the rods to the plates. Mixing and matching usually fixes the problems

I could machine the adapters, but my throw was still 7" max movement.

I'm not sure of the manufacture of the ram as the sticker left long ago and they all look the same to me, but I did stubble across one company on line that sold a 7" close hydraulic kit for modvp guys. But didnt save the the link and cant find it again..