Seamax transom wheels on Honwave T38

[Matt68]

Hello people, when I installed my Seamax transom wheels onto my Honwave T38 I might have installed them a little close to the outboard (Tohatsu 9.8) four stroke. I will get to the problem shortly but let me say first that I have full movement one direction and almost in the other, it just fouls the gear lever but I got almost full movement.

The main problem I have, and for all I know could still have if id installed the brackets as far apart as possible is when I tilt the engine up into either shallow drive or full tilt, if the engine flops over to one side it hits my post that holds the wheel.

The annoying thing is it's marked my conopy on the outboard, I've stuck some round sticks foam pads on the canopy where it fouls to help remedy this.

I don't want to re-drill and put more holes in my transom as it's not that bad, but is there way I can stiffen the movement of the hinge to stop the engine flopping over but not effect it's steerability?

[Fenlander]

Surely the Tohatsu has a steering friction screw or nut?

[Matt68]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Surely the Tohatsu has a steering friction screw or nut?

I will have a look David, I've not really messed with it since buying it new earlier in the year, I thought there was some kind of a damper or friction screw as you put it, still finding my way with outboards, there's more to them than a paddle 😁

[Steve509926]

Friction lever shown in attached

[smallribber]

He said he did not want to stiffen it up when steering. Remove the wheels when they have been used for your launch. Reinstall when you need them again. Is that not what the pins are for.

Having been Sibbing for many years in my view fixed transom wheels are far more trouble than they are worth. We never use them

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by smallribber

He said he did not want to stiffen it up when steering

Matt actually said "not effect it's steerability".
The friction lever can be adjusted so that it stops the OB flopping from side to side but still allows easy maneuverability.

Originally Posted by smallribber

Having been Sibbing for many years in my view fixed transom wheels are far more trouble than they are worth. We never use them

Each to their own, but I find them invaluable.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Matt actually said "not effect it's steerability".
The friction lever can be adjusted so that it stops the OB flopping from side to side but still allows easy maneuverability.

Not sure I would agree with that from many years of experience. But as you say each to their own


Each to their own, but I find them invaluable.[/QUOTE]

Well you have a very heavy sib so perhaps that is the reason. But as you say each to their own and no opinion is of course right or wrong

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by smallribber

Well you have a very heavy sib so perhaps that is the reason. But as you say each to their own and no opinion is of course right or wrong

I honestly don't understand why you keep referring to my sib as being very heavy. You have a T40 which is much heavier, and you launch it (when you very rarely use it) from a road trailer. You don't beach it and go for a nice lunch or go for a walk, if you did you would understand why I along with many others, find transom wheels invaluable.

[Fenlander]

>>>Matt actually said "not effect it's steerability".

Yes quite. Be assured Matt, speaking from a lifetime on the water and use of so many portable outboards, there is a perfect sweet spot to get the outboard steering friction how you prefer. I have mine so it is just tight enough to stop it flopping about and to keep a straight line at slow speed with hand off tiller for a few moments. But not so tight it adds any more weight to turning than the prop thrust and passage of water over the leg give.

[Matt68]

Sorry I probably didn't explain myself very well, if I tighten the friction bolt/screw so it's tight enough that the outboard couldn't flop over, would it be to tight to operate and steer the Sib safety?

I realise this is a daft newbie question, but reading the previous comment I think mine has slackened off or always been to loose, as I can't really take hand off the throttle on the go, but from memory could at first.

Do you have to periodically set the tension??

[Steve509926]

I use the friction lever all the time. I have it tight when the OB is on my wheeled trolley stand and when it's tilted on the transom. I slacken it off slightly when we are underway on the water but still have it tight enough so that it's easy to keep the sib in a straight line.
If it's a bolt and not a lever, as Fenlander has said, there will be a sweet spot.

[Matt68]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I use the friction lever all the time. I have it tight when the OB is on my wheeled trolley stand and when it's tilted on the transom. I slacken it off slightly when we are underway on the water but still have it tight enough so that it's easy to keep the sib in a straight line.
If it's a bolt and not a lever, as Fenlander has said, there will be a sweet spot.

I'm sure there isn't a lever Steve or I would have seen it, I need to have a good read through the manual, it's something I should have done already to save myself things like this 🙄

[Pikey Dave]

Likewise, there’s no way we could manage without transom wheels. Also I use the friction lever constantly, it’s just another control to be used as required.

[Fenlander]

Something worth mentioning. Make sure your steering pivot is lubricated through the grease nipple/s then you'll be able to find the right tension without any pivot sluggishness confusing things.

[Matt68]

From what little I can find to read online the Tohatsu outboard isn't the best for locking the engine in place, you can buy a kit to do it though, and people say that after a few adjustments on the sprung loaded bolt you start getting less tension, I read about one guy on a yacht that uses his Tohatsu as a back up has a problem with the engine flopping from side to side on every tack despite adjusting the tensioner, so it sounds like something I'm going to have to live with.

[Pikey Dave]

Without seeing it, I’m sure you could rig something up to hold it in place whilst it’s tilted. I’m thinking of a bungee on the tiller arm fastened to a point on the transom, or around the raised wheels. Where there’s a will….

[Steve509926]

Hi Matt, if it helps I found this parts diagram online. It doesn't look like it's the easiest to alter on the go like the friction lever on my 20hp Merc is.
I've just looked at my Tohatsu 9.8 2 stroke and it is the same setup, which I hadn't realised. I tilted the OB on the stand and it stays vertical and doesn't flop from side to side and I know it doesn't effect the steering when I use it, presumably it is set at the "sweet spot" Fenlander talks about.

[Fenlander]

>>>From what little I can find to read online the Tohatsu outboard isn't the best for locking the engine in place, you can buy a kit to do it though, and people say that after a few adjustments on the sprung loaded bolt you start getting less tension

Don't believe everything you read on forums Matt ha ha.

Many Google returns are for different models to yours and you have to account for the ham fisted who can't set this correctly. But most of all it's that folks are using these as a yacht motor where they want it locked rigid straight ahead and then they use the rudder to steer. The friction setting was never designed to do this and with the heeling/bouncing about with no hand on the tiller mile after mile the friction lock will loosen/wear. Hence the locking kits you've come across.

Don't worry about it further until you've tried adjusting the bolt (if that is what you have) and seeing the effect.

BTW. I owned the Mariner clone of the outboard I think you have and that had the red friction lever you see in the image. It was easier than the bolt arrangement as no spanner needed but it was also easier to knock out of that just right position when lifting the outboard.