70 HP Yamaha Frozen Steering

[jmack325]

Problem: Steering is frozen. Unscrewed the nuts on both sides of steering cable and unscrewed steering link rod. Engine moves freely. <br />- When nuts are unscrewed the steering wheel turns freely and you see the "push rod" on the starboard sive move back and forth. When you reattach the nuts the "push rod" doesnt move. The rod on the port side is definitley the frozen one. Tried lubricating rod and used a small sledge hammer to bang the rod and break it free. Still no luck. Just bought the boat last week, only used ~10 times in 1987. Boat & engine have been garaged since 1988. Please offer your best suggestions to get this steering free. Thanks, John

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 70 HP Yamaha Frozen Steering

hack saw, heat, and a new tube and cable. the tube rusts and swells on the inside and clamps the cable end solid. I have seen them locked so tight you could not press them apart.<br /> good luck. use oxy/acetylene and prayer.

 

[rjolley]

Re: 70 HP Yamaha Frozen Steering

Had the same thing on my boat this year. Spent 4 hours working the problem. After a can of Liquid wrench and allot of beating I finally got it loose. Polished off the rust and lubed the fool out of it. Good luck!

 

[bajaus]

Re: 70 HP Yamaha Frozen Steering

Originally posted by jmack325:<br /> Problem: Steering is frozen. Unscrewed the nuts on both sides of steering cable and unscrewed steering link rod. Engine moves freely. <br />- When nuts are unscrewed the steering wheel turns freely and you see the "push rod" on the starboard sive move back and forth. When you reattach the nuts the "push rod" doesnt move. The rod on the port side is definitley the frozen one. Tried lubricating rod and used a small sledge hammer to bang the rod and break it free. Still no luck. Just bought the boat last week, only used ~10 times in 1987. Boat & engine have been garaged since 1988. Please offer your best suggestions to get this steering free. Thanks, John

 

[bajaus]

Re: 70 HP Yamaha Frozen Steering

I had a boat repair facility for 20 years. We would ream out the tube 1/8" and use blue marine grease prior to storage. Did my boat down here in Mexico on the beach 8 years ago - no more problems.

 

[jasell]

Re: 70 HP Yamaha Frozen Steering

Try liquid wrench or crc 5-56, let it soke over night. Hit it with a sledgehammar and then try to jank it by turning it with a c-wrench.<br />If you don't manage to loosen it you might need to cut the steering cable and then replace the threaded tube (its a part of the engine mount). Then make a note of the length of the cable so you know how long your new cable should be.