Steering has become VERY stiff

[bassmanvt]

The steering on my 96 Nitro with a 96 merc 150 EFI has become almost too stiff to use safely. Is there anything I can do for the cables, etc. to get rid of the problem. Moving the boat at low speeds is very hard. Please help me solve this problem. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

The first thing to do is to determine what is stiff. Remove the steering link to the motor and see if the motor swivels easily or not. Then check the steering wheel to see if it moves easily. Normally the steering cable binds in the tilt tube of the motor. If so, turn the wheel until most of the cable end is exposed and clean with a solvent and oil it with penetrating oil. Repeat this until it moves smoothly and then lubricate it with some light grease.

 

[zzzzz]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

if what Chris1956 said doesn't work...you may have to dismount the motor from the boat to remove the steering cable...hone out and clean the tilt tube...clean and reinsert the steering cable

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

disconnect at motor, find out which is binding, motor or cable. if cable go ahead and remove the cable from the tilt tube, and clean. the oil is only going to goop up the mess in there. also the cable is almost 12 years old. may be time to replace. should be a number stamped on the black sheath. thats the replacement #

 

[redjmp]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

Make sure you always grease all the nipples on the transom bracket.
If any salt water gets in there it will quickly start to seize the tilt and turn.
If the cable has started to seize, you will have to pull the inside straight out of the sheath and thoroughly clean off the gunk with some carb or brake cleaner and a wire brush and then lube well with grease before installing back into sheath.
Check the rubber/vinyl grommet at the end of the sheath for a good tight seal. Important to keep the salt water from running back into the cable.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

I noticed it's on a nitro. Jack plates were commonly used on them. Some installers put a pretty good bend in the aft cable to get it to the motor, and they failed after time at the bend.

Solution would be to install a new cable, or if it is obsolete, a new helm system. When you do, put a second hold in the motor well aft the cable hole so that cable doesn't have to be bent past it's specification.

I put a Morse dual rack NFB on mine, it's a different bote now.

hope it helps
John

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

the rotary no feed back is a simpler system with only 1 cable to go bad.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

Dual rack is the minimum allowable for a V6 over 50 mph.

Anything less is dangerous.

John

 

[bassmanvt]

Re: Steering has become VERY stiff

Thanks for all of the feedback. I will try the clean and grease option and be prepared to buy a new system if it doesn't show significant improvement. Once again, thanks to everyone for the help.