My ski came with the UMI bearing steering system with 4 degree bars. Believe it or not I didn't really have much trouble with the lock nut coming loose, and I had it off a million times swapping out steering cables. It definitely is a pretty smooth steering setup for sure, but maintenance is definitely required. The main bearing seized up on me one day, causing the lock nut to twist and eventually come loose. An o ring ripped off, and then it had a bunch of slop. I didn't think anything of the slop but when I cranked the bars, I broke the threaded end of the steering cable up by the turnplate right off..Replaced the main bearing with a nice Koyo one, and it worked out very well. I didn't even get a new thrust washer even though mine was ruined. It still worked good. I ended up selling the whole entire setup because I was set on getting the coldfusion fatbar turnplate setup with riser bars. I was talking to jetmaniac and he said that he prefers a sealed bearing system, so I took that into consideration again.. I ended up finding a complete blowsion steering system including shortened turnplate, fatbar clamp, and the bearing setup including the lock not with a set screw. I'll be running that with 50mm riser bars now. I never tried a bushing setup, but I really did think UMI was pretty smooth. In my opinion, quick steer is an absolute necessity whether it be a UMI setup, blowsion, rrp, or whatever. I used the middle hole on the UMI turnplate along with my a hole drilled closer to the pivot on the steering nozzle. It turns so quick that it's so fun! Makes a huge difference and makes it feel like a complete new ski. However, when messing with your steering, make 100% sure your nozzle isn't making the steering bottom out, and overall make sure you're not bottoming out you're steering. I'd recommend an RN cable for quick steer since you get more throw and you don't have to worry so much about bottoming out cables. I also was using rhaas steering ends with my RN cable. I originally was using an SN cable, but once mine broke, I went straight to an RN cable and the extra throw is worth it.
Overall, the UMI setup worked well, but make sure you get an OCD solutions thrust washer kit. It uses 2 delrin? washers and one stainless washer so it doesn't ever rust out. No matter what, make sure you get a quick steer setup!!
Overall, the UMI setup worked well, but make sure you get an OCD solutions thrust washer kit. It uses 2 delrin? washers and one stainless washer so it doesn't ever rust out. No matter what, make sure you get a quick steer setup!!
