hard steering on rude outboard

[wish2fish]

My '84 Rude has terribly difficult steering. I don,t mean torque, just very hard to turn the wheel. It's a little better at higher speeds, but takes everything I have to turn the motor at stopped or slow speeds. Is there maintenance to the steering cable, other than grease(or a special type of grease) that I am not doing, or are there grease fittings somewhere behind the wheel, under the dash, that I am not doing? Can the cable just plain wear out? Please help my tired arms.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: hard steering on rude outboard

Have you disconnected the steering link at the motor and tried swinging the motor back and forth? You need to isolate whether the motor swivel tube or the steering is the problem. There's typically a grease fitting on the tube to the motor if you have mechanical steering. You haven't said what steering you have, so I guessing at what you might have. I assume it's equally hard in both directions also.

 

[steamboatwilly]

Re: hard steering on rude outboard

Do what WildeOne says. If the problem is ln the cable,the inner cable is not stainless.It is rusted and swelled up so big you cant get it out and cant get oil in.I spent two days trying to get mine apart but couldnt.Might as well buy a new one.

 

[Mo.CrappieFisherman]

Re: hard steering on rude outboard

I agree With Both James Williams and Wildone. Ihave a 82 150hp Evinrude that is really hard to turn until i trim it all the way up at full speed. I greased my cable at the motor and under the wheel and it got a little better but not much. May have to replace cables.

 

[wish2fish]

Re: hard steering on rude outboard

Thanks for all your valuable info! Yes, it is machanical steering. I'll start with this info. and see what happens. Thanks again!