Oil level check

[mainiak1]

How does one go about checking egine oil level in a ski boat? I've always owned IO's and the motors are fairly level. These inboards the motors are really angled high to the front. Do I check the level sitting in the water? Then remember where it is on the dipstick in my driveway? I have the same question on the transmission. I assume the trans is like a car check when hot idleing.
Thanks for the help,
mainiak1

[smendez]

That's a good question. I check mine on the lift, but is this right? Should I be doing it while the boat's on the water? Does it make a difference?

[Tige M.D.]

the dipstick reads from the center of the pan. i've never noticed a significant difference in level readings if the boat is in the water or on the trailer. just don't check it while backing down the ramp. that might change things.

the tranmission level is checked with the engine shut down. run the engine for a few minutes, shut it down and check it with in about 5 seconds. remember, too much trans fluid is as bad or worse than too little.

[mainiak1]

Thanks Tige M.D. I have one other question. First time out with this new to us boat. It is a 1998 2100i. the steering torques to the right. Like I said before I always owned IO's and this was corrected by the fin in back of the prop. Is there any way to correct this on a direct drive? I can't believe the previous owner didn't try to correct this. If I would let go of the steering it would do a 360 in a hurry. Thanks again for all your help.
mainiak1

[raythompson]

The trim tab on the I/O is designed to counter the torgue of the drive unit as the power is deflected down to the lower gear box and is generally optimized for a certain speed. If you have power steering on an I/O the trim tab is usually centered as the torgue is not transferred to the steering because of the power assist unit.

I have not seen any adjustment on a V or direct system as there should be no torgue on the steering. The water from the prop should be going straight back and is deflected by the rudder.

If you have power steering you may have a valve control problem where the steering assist is always being applied regardless of any force on the steering wheel.

My opinion is that you need to have the power assist unit and control valve checked. Corrections welcomed.

[GIZMO]

I have heard of people shaving one side of the rudder to correct a pull. I assume if your boat pulls to the right you would shave the left side of the rudder. Check the Power steering as Ray suggested first, then I would look into shaving the rudder. Note: I am only guessing on what side to shave! check with someone who knows before trying it.

[Tige M.D.]

you can shave the rudder to neutral the pull on the wheel but i don't recommend it. the reason for this is, it is supposed to be there. they call this a positive rudder. as long as there is pressure on the wheel the slightest input from you causes the boat to react. if the rudder was neutral (no pull/load) the boat would tend to drift from side to side and you would be constantly adjusting the wheel to try and drive straight. if you insist on adjusting this you have to shave the trailing edge of the rudder with a grinder. look at the rudder as if it were an airplane wing. there is lift on one side. that negetive pressure is pulling the rudder to that one side. if you find someone that will do this i hope they know what they are doing because you can screw this up pretty quick. we will shave rudders but we don't promise anything. if it works great, if not, you just bought a new rudder.

[mainiak1]

There is no power steering. I've driven one other Tige' it was a 20i. I don't remember it pulling to one side. It sounds like there isn't any adjustment. If I were to let go of the wheel it would immediately take a hard right. I notice there is a little pitting on the left side of the rudder standing out of the boat facing the rear. Passengers side. There are about 20-30 little pits probably 1/16 " deep. Could pitting cause this? Is this the side I would modify?

Thanks

[Tige M.D.]

there is no powersteering. never has, and probably never will be. the pitting you see in what we call cavitation burns. it's caused by the water boiling in an extremly low pressure or high vacuum. depends on how you want to look at it. the place to grind is, the trailing edge stbd side of the rudder. it is a grind and test procedure. a little sometimes goes a loooong ways. if you are hellbent on doing this then good luck, and don't get mad at the price of a new rudder.

the other boat you drove probably did pull, maybe just not as hard. every rudder is different, they're just a cast piece of alloy. just like every prop was different, until the acme showed up, what a great prop.
take a look at you steering wheel at different speeds. it should be dead straight at 30mph heading into the wind chop. any speed above or below and the wheel will be off center. that is because of the loaded rudder.

[mainiak1]

Thank you again Tige MD for all the the help on this board. I did shave a little on the starboard side trailing edge with a DA sander. It is much better. At 25mph there is no torque at 30 mph it is torqueing some but not as bad. I think I will leave it as is and try it like this. What I've been reading I guess some torque is a good thing for tracking in a ski course run.

On the transmission: I checked the level it was reading high I took a few ounces out. When checking level in trans does the dipstick go all the way in or just enough before it starts to snug up on rubber?

[Tige M.D.]

put it all the way in.

[mainiak1]

Wow I guess they really had too much in there. I'll take some more out.

[Beau McCrory]

tige md, you are the MAN!!! the boys at corporate and the dealerships should be paying you royalities or something!

[Tige M.D.]

beau, believe it or not, i do this for you. no extra pay or royalties. the thank you's from guys like you are good enough for me. now, if someone higher in the food chain wants to kick me down something that would be great. but, i sure as hell won't hold my breath

[Beau McCrory]

well, you sure do save them a lot of time and frustration dealing with our situations and what not.