97 johnson needs help

[nekot1]

hI, I HAVE A 1997 JOHNSON 35 HP ser# G04209940. the first thing is that the steering feels locked up, no matter how hard I turn the wheel the cable doesnt move an inch. It feels very stiff. do you think the cable will have to be replaced or can it be adjusted. Also while I was ideling on the water there was alot of smoke comming out of the exhaust and when I got home there was a puddle of black sludge under the motor on the ground. Is this normal since the motor hasnt been run in about 2years? the motor never got hot while running.

 

[DJ]

Re: 97 johnson needs help

Yes, the cable needs to be replaced. If it is locked up, corrosion has set in. Even if you free it up, I wouldn't trust it.<br /><br />Black sludge (unburned exhaust) is not uncommon. No worries there.<br /><br />You may want to decarb it. See Decarb. in FAQ's.

 

[ob]

Re: 97 johnson needs help

My guess is that the tilt tube that the teleflex cable runs through has become corroded inside.Too bad John/Rudes didn't make these tubes out of stainless steel.Anyway, dis-connect the cable compression nut on the starboard side of the tilt tube where it connects and also on the port side where it exits the tilt tube and connects to the steering link.Then back off on the plastic wiper nut and slide it down the steering rod enough to squirt some pentetrating oil between the rod and the tube.Then try coaxing it to break free with a piece of wood and a hammer.Trick is not to mushroom the end of it or it will surely wedge in tight once it clears the end of the tube.May need to work it back and forth while occasionally squirting more oil.Once you are able to get the steering rod completely out of the tube you can use something like a gun boring tool to clean up the tube bore.Then ,scotch bright any surface spots from the cable rod and lubricate.Same with the tube.Then reassemble.