IMCO Uni Mount Steering Install - 292 FasTech


Neat, so it's quiet at idle then opens up on plane?

Got the filter mounted and new seals for the caps.

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ignore the hose draped across the engines... that's the new return line not attached or cut to length yet.
 
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Neat, so it's quiet at idle then opens up on plane?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm pushing 530HP and to achieve all the horses I need thru hull. I'm unable to use exhaust diverters because of the cam and reversion. I want it quite around the dock so I installed turn downs. In my location there is no db reduction necessary, I just like it quite
 
Weekend Work

Lots of work over the weekend.
Removed rear covers, ran a tap through to clean up the original holes. drilled 2 more per outdrive, tapped.

Drilled the 2 holes for the fluid so I could get the bracket on the boat. Used the bracket as the template to center drill w/a bit the size of the hole, then finished the hole w/the pilot then correct size bit.

Masking tape helped keep the gelcoat clean around the holes, minus 2 that a dying drill battery caused me to mess up a bit.

Silicone around the holes on the outside, and inside the boat, I would have liked to have seen the bolts 1/4" to 1/2" longer than provided.

I'll get a pic of the inside once I relocate the light. I tried my best to move the rams by hand - not happening. So I'll move them by power each to line them up, then get the tiebar on.

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Even if you drain the drives, removing the rear cover will get fluid all over the place. Then you'll be raining down aluminum shavings from drilling the holes. So that was fun. Tape over the openings on the drive so you don't fill your drive with aluminum shavings.
 
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Thanks.

Waiting for parts. Cleaned out the shop and did some silicone work.

Ordered a wheel.

https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-11561-13-34-linosa-silver-steering-wheel.aspx

I think it looks nice, doesn't have a 'top' since I don't think hydro steering can have a 'center' like a car can.

Apparently it's made in Italy... for reasons..? (as most of them are? Why? Who cares?) Does an Italian steering wheel help my boat steer better than one made in USA or literally anywhere?

Once I have the wheel I will try to bleed the system.
I need, at least, the drives pointed strait for winter storage and to get the tie bar on.

The power steering engine is already filled w/antifreeze and winterized.
I don't really want to do that again... or get antifreeze all over my garage floor... so final bleeding may have to wait for spring.. or maybe I'll just do it since I'd like to know now of any leaks...
 
Italia-no' is there with Ferrari, it has to be faster :)
There are USA manufactures just need to search
 
Done for now!

Bled the system with a power drill on the steering pump. All lines are full, drives mostly move. Will have to verify/bleed this spring when I can start the engine. (engine is winterized, too much hassle to fire it up just to do all that again).

Well, you can try to push/pull on the drives all you want. They will NOT move left/right at all. crazy how long I put up with crap steering.

I have a few other odds and ends to wrap up around the boat, then wash it inside and out, and get it on jacks for the winter... then... that's.. about it... no idea what I might do next, but it will be something... I can't do nothing! (Attic insulation, mini split, and learning to code in Swift so I can make iphone apps are all on the to do).

Overall: I'm happy w/the product (having not actually used it yet), install went well, instructions could be better. But I'm sure if you're taking this on you've done things before... like replacing both engines last winter like I did. It is not cheap, but everything is rock solid. It may outlast the boat.

I'll have a write up on the handling once it's back in MD for the summer!
Yes the IMCO on the wheel is slightly off level. I fixed it after the pic was taken.

I might put some LEDs on the back through the holes that were originally for the thunderbox, like Frank did on his 292, just wire them to the inside transom light that's already there. I think 1 or 2 bright red lights mounted to the tie bar would be kind of cool. They would be out of water when running.

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Turns out I could not wait for spring. Fired the engine up to check the check list.


New Alternator works - Yes - shows 14v or so at idle.
Belt Squeal - None detected at idle or rev'd up (replaced alternator + returned power steering bracket to factory)

Turned wheel left/right to bleed steering - done

pump tank has some air bubbles it looks in the steering fluid (tiny, make it look a bit pink), but I'm guessing that's due to bleeding the air out... and will settle to the top over the winter and when running next season.

this steering (according to everyone else) is a game changer... so we shall see. so far feels amazing, but you get zero feedback and don't really know where the drives are without looking or moving? I tried to push the drives left/right by hand at the rear, and those things are not budging. No leaks found.

I need to get port back together and test that, then winterize both (again). But, hey now I know it should work this spring!

Port: I removed the fuel injectors to clean them. Ended up breaking the connector off 4 of them. learning is $$. I mean fun..? Bought new OEM ones, even though the 'after market' ones look so freaking identical it's not funny how cheap they are...

if I had a truck of my own, I'd have LOVED to get out last weekend... was 82 here!
 
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Fired both up again, and drained, and now filled with antifreeze (again). steering resiovur (one day I'll learn how to spell that) looks nice and candy red. Both drives were kind of hard to get out of neutral, but a few shifts and now all feels good. Both drives worked F and R. (only shift while running). I'm guessing the new indent balls/springs are nice and new.

The new fuel injectors worked. Engine started great, idled and rev'd up fine. I guess load will be the real test, but it felt smooth to me.

Here's to counting the days until spring!
 
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE. First runs (3) of 2021, and OMG. This steering is amazing.

I can't explain in words just how well this works. I've felt awful about my boat for years now, fixing things left and right only to have it feel like a piece of junk every run because I couldn't hold a strait line without fighting non-stop with the wheel every inch of every run. On take off the wheel would hook left every time. If you let go of the wheel at any time on plane it would change direction in under 20 seconds. no wake zones were such a hassle.

Let me tell you this very clearly. If you do not have external hydraulic steering, you're doing it wrong.

The boat tracks 1000% strait at idle. 1000% strait at 60 mph without breaking a sweat. You can make micro course corrections and the boat holds it. You can throw it into a turn at 45 and it just carves without even the slightest hesitation or slide or misalignment.

More to come, but damn, if a performance boat doesn't have this steering... it might as well have no steering. IMCO will never be mistaken for being inexpensive... but I am a satisfied customer.

This is how it should have come off the line. Anything with twins or capable of these speeds should be required to have this. Any speed, any angle, it just.. works. I *heart* hydraulics.
 
Update: Still love all the IMCO parts. But my steering wheel is junk... I super glued them back on, but for $160 or so, this shouldn't happen. Why are so many products complete crap today? This is after 1/2 of ONE season they fell off.

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The Isotta carlotta is the most impressive product I've purchased in a long time. If you're looing for a product that is not complete crap, this is that. Though they went up in cost apparently since I purchased.
 
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