1977/78 Starcraft tri hull open bow..please help if possible

[fishing dad 2011]

I recently picked up a really nice starcraft 15' 6" tri hull. Before I bought this I checked out the hull and transom really good and everything seems very solid and quite nice for the year. The paint is faded but I think can be buffed back. It is white and starcraft yellow/gold. I was checking out the motor since it has started to get nice out and It seemed to fire up with a shot of starting fluid so I have not messed with that at all because I am waiting till I get the right hose fitting for the fuel tank. However the steering seems as if it is froze up, I am sure the cable is probably froze inside the tube that holds it on the motor. There are 2 grease fittings on the front side of it but I am not sure if greasing these is gonna free it up..Does anyone know of a good way to free these up??? I know this is a very poor description of a problem but I am new to this whole deal and was just hoping to get some replies and go from there. I would like to add some photos of this boat but I am such a noob at this forum that I cannot figure out how to so maybe I can get some help there too.
Thanks in advance for any help,

 

[fishing dad 2011]

Re: 1977/78 Starcraft tri hull open bow..please help if possible

I think I figured out the picture thing...I can post more if asked. When I ran the HIN The hull came back as a 1977 and when I removed the cover from the motor it said IT was a 1978.
Please any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[fishing dad 2011]

How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Can anyone help me figure out the best way to free up a frozen steering cable on an outboard???
Is there a good way or should it just be replaced?? Boat has been sitting for quite a long time.

 

[fishing dad 2011]

Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Need any ideas as far as how to free up a frozen steering cable..
I have another one I could replace it with but thats if I can even get the old one off..

 

[woody66912]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Just replace it. Can't really tell from the pic on this side, but you looks like you don't have to lift the motor to reinstall a new cable.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Heat and stamina are your two best friends in this venture, apply heat and try knocking it loose little by little, soaking it in penetrating oil may also help. These tend to be a bear once they freeze up.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

If cable itself is frozen, change it, you will never get it safely working again. If just stuck in the tilt tube, carefully heat the tube and get it out. Watch out for the nylon bushings when heating!!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Man o Man this is a SWEET 70 hp RUDE' If she's a runner you will love the performance you will get out of that motor. No EASY way to free up the cable. If you totally remove it, create a makeshift funnel around one end, hang than end from the rafters in the garage and then fill the funnel with brake fluid you MIGHT get it to seep into the sheathing and free up the Stuck cable. MIGHT!!!!! Coiling it up and soaking it in Boiling hot water might do it to but... still no guarantees. Buying a new one is prolly your best option.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Before replacing it would be worth a shot at freeing it up. You have to disconnect it anyway. After you have it disconnected(just from the motor for this) try using some spray-can degreaser and clean off the old crusty stuff. Hold the end up and spray(let some run down) into the cable housing, then just shake it out. While the cable is disconnected verify the motor pivots freely, there should also be some grease zerks at the engine pivot points. If you have a grease gun, pump some fresh grease in through these. Try working the wheel back and forth. If it's free and you have full range of motion, apply a little axle grease and reassemble. This has worked for me on a few boats. Good luck.

 

[boobie]

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

You may have to pull the mtr off of the boat to get the the steering cable out of the tube.

 

[w2much]

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

Re: Trying to free up a frozen steering cable..Any Ideas

I agree with all of the above, good advice. None of it worked for me, I lucked out and found one (tilt tube)used and replaced it.Easy job compared to all of the above which I tried.Good luck.

 

[fishing dad 2011]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Yeah thanks I got a great deal on this boat.. Paid 600.00 Everything under the cover of the motor is clean judging from the overall appearance of the whole boat it appears to have been well taken care of.. I do have another cable I can use it is pretty new but i need to straighten it out a bit because it got bent (not bad) from removal of last boat. It fired right up and sounded good. Just need a fitting for my fuel can and a new primer bulb. Plus it has a SS prop.

 

[fishing dad 2011]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Thanks that is some good info.. I thought about trying a propane torch too but I am not so sure about putting heat that close to the glass..

 

[southkogs]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Had a neighbor on our lake with one that looked just like that boat ... we used to get into "how many skiers can we pull at once" competitions with them. They had four up one time. Great boat and motor combo ... congratulations.

IMHO - spend the money on a new cable. It's well worth it.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

The torch is not a good idea, its not going to do anything for you anyway. Once you disconnect it from from the motor and have a good look, it could be as simple as a crap/rust buildup at the end of the housing preventing the rod from sliding. I don't know how valuable your time is, but it would be worth the price of a new cable for me to spend 20 minutes trying to salvage it. If it's good it's good, if its bad its bad. There's really not much room for a grey area in-between.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

freeing stuck cable:
step 1 remove cable and put it in a heavy weight trash bag
step 2 Install new cable.......

Honestly, trashing a 30 year old cable isn't a bad idea even if it works perfectly..... not because it is incredibly likely to fail but because the results can be so catastrophic.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Steering cables are a wear item. Yours has done worn.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Please do not post the same question in multiple forum sections. I have merged your three threads on the subject.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Yeah let's make this pretty clear, it's never a good idea to use a cable that has been seized. The reason we are discussing removal options is so that the OP can REPLACE the cable once it is off the boat.

To the poster that said heat will do no good, what does grease do when heated?.......it becomes thinner which enables you to work it into areas it may not have gotten into.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

Re: How do I free up a frozen steering cable????

If the installation is such the the cable would normally need to be retracted to remove it then removal of a seized cable is done with a hack saw, bolt cutters, or a sawsall.