Frozen steering

[mklearl]

My steering was frozen today. I unscrewed the fitting that goes on to the steering tube. The shaft on that end slides in and out of the steering tube. On the other side, that shaft is stuck... frozen solid, I have removed it from the engine and the engine moves freely. I'm going to replace the steering cable, but can't seem to get it free from the steering tube. I sprayed it and let it sit, tapped it with a hammer, etc. Am I missing something here? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Frozen steering

I'm not picturing how the shaft can move at one end of the tube and not the other, since it's the same shaft, unless it's broken up in there?

 

[alldodge]

Re: Frozen steering

Pics please

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

That's what I was thinking, but they seem to be two seperate parts... see pictures.
The first one is on the starbord side of the tube. The second one also is... If i pull on the cable, that shaft pulls out of the tube and stops. The third picture is on the port side. It stays in this position regardless of where the shaft on the starbord side is. this shaft connects to an arm on the engine. Hope this clears things up.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Frozen steering

lots of PB buster, a heavy dead blow plastic hammer and it will have to be beaten out. MANY motors have to be dismounted and slid to one side to give you enough slack to remove the whole cable. It is not uncommon to see them stuck.

Once removed go to a sporting-goods store and get a 12 gauge cleaning brush and clean the inside of the tube (Which is actually you tilt tube) before you install your new cable. iboats sells the cables Boat Controls & Steering - iboats

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

Actually that is not my tilt tube... the tube that the motor actually tilts on is behind this, as shown in picture 3. What I don't understand is why does one side slide in and out and the other side doesn't budge. Also, the shafts on either side are two different diameters, so they are definately two different pieces, that work as one when working properly. I don't have any problem hammering on the thing. I just want to make sure that I don't damage something by hamering when I'm not supposed to.

One more thing. On the starbord side, on the tube, there are two large nuts on either side of the mounting bracket (pics one and two). I assume these hold the tube in place. On the port side, which is stuck, there is no nut at all. Just what looks like a gasket holding that shaft in place (pic 3). I'm confused as to how this steering works.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Frozen steering

That rod end should be sliding in and out...... if it is frozen you might re-attach it to the tube with the nut and apply pb buster and try to turn the wheel to free it........ either the cable is trashed (which happens) or it is stuck in the tube which really needs to be cleaned.

If you can get it to break free I would remove it and clean that tube........ worst case scenario is the tube and cable need to be replaced.

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

The rod slides in and out at the tube on the cable (starbord) side. It slides in and out of the tube but then stops it gets most of the way out. it does not, however, slide in or out in the cable itself. So I know the cable is bad. But I can't replace the cable if I can't get it out. The shaft on the starbord side is somehow connected to the shaft on the port side, which is why it "bottoms out" when i pull the cable out. Soaking the whole thing tonight. I'll put the hammer to it tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll just take the whole tube off and replace both the cable and tube. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the help!

 

[limitout]

Re: Frozen steering

That's what I was thinking, but they seem to be two seperate parts... see pictures.
The first one is on the starbord side of the tube. The second one also is... If i pull on the cable, that shaft pulls out of the tube and stops. The third picture is on the port side. It stays in this position regardless of where the shaft on the starbord side is. this shaft connects to an arm on the engine. Hope this clears things up.
View attachment 219184View attachment 219185View attachment 219186

what you have is an inner and an outer tube there that slide into each other and they both fit inside the motors tilt tube.

spray a lot of rust penetrating lube in from the nut side and gently tap the tube thru until I gets past the rusted part or if its too tight go back and forth in both directions until its free. just don't get mad and hammer it in so tight you cant move it again.

there is rust that forms inside the motors tilt tube and this reduces the tube size so that's why it doesn't fit anymore or want to slide out.

since you know you need a new cable just cut the skinnier steering cable shaft off on the nut side (its hardened metal and not easy to cut so be patient) and slide it out the other end then you can get in there and clean out the tube before replacing the cable

take a good look at the condition of your steering box since its usually best to replace the cable and steering box together. I would bet if the cable is bad the box is rusty and corroded too.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Frozen steering

the inside of your tilt tube has corrosion. you need to pull out the cable, pull out the rod, then clean out the corrosion. once done, lubricate well with teflon grease, and re-install

down here in FL, lubrication is your friend.

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

spray a lot of rust penetrating lube in from the nut side and gently tap the tube thru until I gets past the rusted part or if its too tight go back and forth in both directions until its free. just don't get mad and hammer it in so tight you cant move it again.

You mean tap the shaft through, not the tube, right? The shaft from the steering cable is stuck inside the tube. And the only way I can tap it is from the port side out to the cable or starbord side, unless I'm not following you?

The steering box actually is in good shape. Cutting and going out the other way may be the ticket... thanks for the suggestion.

What about applying heat to the tube... yes or no?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Frozen steering

you can try heat but it's a tight fit......... I would hit it from the port side with a sbstantial dead blow mallet or a brass drift and a 3 lb mallet....... oil it and don't be shy

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

Update. An overnight soaking and a little persuasion is all it needed. Worked it back and forth and kept lubricating while the "rust mud" came out. Thanks for all the suggestions.
The system is in fact a "tube within a tube." Now I get it! Time to buy a shotgun cleaning kit and clean out the tube... hopefully. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Frozen steering

Yup, I mounted the shotgun brush on a rod and used my cordless drill. Cleans those tubes right up.

 

[limitout]

Re: Frozen steering

Update. An overnight soaking and a little persuasion is all it needed. Worked it back and forth and kept lubricating while the "rust mud" came out. Thanks for all the suggestions.
The system is in fact a "tube within a tube." Now I get it! Time to buy a shotgun cleaning kit and clean out the tube... hopefully. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

glad we could help you

now that its out do you still need the cable or was the cable just stuck in the tilt tube?

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

The cable was just stuck in the tube. Cleaned, lubed, and working like a champ.... best it's ever felt for me. Side to side with one finger. Cleaning and lubrication will be a normal part of my maintenance for sure. I know corrosion and things happen quick on boats. But I can't believe how fast this froze up... I just used the boat 2 weeks ago! I can see it getting a little sticky in two weeks, but frozen solid! Wow! Dodged a serious bullet on that one. My neglect could have cost hundreds! Don't make the same mistake I did!

 

[limitout]

Re: Frozen steering

The cable was just stuck in the tube. Cleaned, lubed, and working like a champ.... best it's ever felt for me. Side to side with one finger. Cleaning and lubrication will be a normal part of my maintenance for sure. I know corrosion and things happen quick on boats. But I can't believe how fast this froze up... I just used the boat 2 weeks ago! I can see it getting a little sticky in two weeks, but frozen solid! Wow! Dodged a serious bullet on that one. My neglect could have cost hundreds! Don't make the same mistake I did!

what happens is a bit of rust chunk fell and that got smooshed (technical term) in the small space it slides in so it acted like a wedge.

smear a good coat of grease in the tilt tube and that's all you should need. it has been my observation that shops don't put any lube in the tilt tube so they just put the steering cable in there dry because when its all new it doesn't matter. I have never seen any evidence of existing lube in the tilt tube from the dealer and the first thing I did when I bought a new motor was pull the steering and check it, sure enough dry as a bone so I coated it with grease.

I love grease squishing out when I put things together so I know its well lubed, but I am also careful to let the excess out so im not stressing any seals or causing drag or compression.

 

[mklearl]

Re: Frozen steering

I ended up puting a generous portion of 3 in one oil in the tube as well as on the steering shaft.