Friend's boat, steering problem

[Speedwagon]

My friend has a pontoon boat, with (I believe) a 40hp Johnson on the back. When he got it last year, the steering was fine. But he tells me it is very stiff now, and if you go to the back of the boat(it's on a trailer right now), you can't turn the outboard by hand.<br /><br />I understand my boat(Vhull I/O), but don't know anything about the setup on the pontoons yet. So where should I start looking around on this thing, to help him out? He is not the mechanically inclined type like I am.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

Start by disconnecting the steering cable from the engine, than you can determine if it’s binding in the cable, the helm or the engine pivot. If it’s the engine pivot than some grease into the nipple should get it sorted. If it’s the cable than sounds like it’s rusted up and will either need replacing or you can try oiling it. There are commercial cable lubricating tools available however if you have some time you can do it this way; Remove the cable completely, coil it up and submerge it in a dish of oil for a week or so, than take it out, un-coil it and hang it up to drain, that should get it lubricated. From there you can work the inner cable in and out to free it up. When it’s free leave it hanging for a week or so to drain all the oil out. Clean it up and re-install it. If it’s the helm, don’t mess around with it, fit a new one. Good luck.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

Look for grease fittings on the outboard. I think the Johnson will have 4 depending on the year. Clean the outside, then pump them full of grease, rotate the engine back and forth, and it should loosen up.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

The grease fittings on the tilt tube only lube the tilt ram, not the cable, as it may appear to do...You must remove the steering cable from the tube to lube it...Just so you know... But yes, lube the pivot points as described...

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

Found the problem. The cable is find, and the motor swings OK. But the shaft that the motor and cable bolts to is bent.<br /><br />So, how does this shaft come out? I couldn't get the cable to come out of the shaft, because I don't know how it attaches inside there.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

Any help on that?<br /><br />Any suggestions for bending it back into shape? He really doesn't want to replace it(as a shop told him it'd be about $100).

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

got to ebay and try to find one.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

That'd be great, but I don't even know what "it" is called. So I don't know what to search for.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

I think you will find the 'shaft' is actually part of the cable and not a replacement part. To go new you will need to replace the whole cable, hence the $100. Once you get it out it should not be hard to get it back into shape, they are fairly hardy and if you set it up on a v-block you should be able to tap it back into shape with a nylon hammer. I would be more concerned at to how he managed to bend it in the first place, sounds like he has something else wrong with that setup.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

Well, it is suspected that his wife was trying to be nice, and change the oil on the engine for him. However, she has MS, so is a bit clumsy at times. And a good step on that piece looks like it would bend it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

before you pull the old cable out. attach a fish tape to it, so hopefully you can just pull the new one back thru. that is as long as it's not wrapped aroung something or a bunch of wires. good luck

 

[ZR8RIDER]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

I just replaced two steering cables on a buddys outboard. Hardest part was getting the shaft out. We had to remove 3 bolts on the motor and tilt it up to get the clearance needed. Then it was just fishing the cables up to the steering wheel. His cables cost $150 each and there were two. Works awesome.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Friend's boat, steering problem

it's probably a teleflex cable, should be stamp on the outer sleave with part #. i buy mine from ebay, and save alot of $.