hard to turn

[jorgeoliva]

just got a 18ft 1996 boat with 115hp Yamaha outboard the steering is pretty hard we de attach the Teleflex from the engine and the steering is very smooth so the problem has to be at the engine we grease the fitting and its very hard like no grease is going thru any sugestion

 

[99yam40]

did you try moving the motor by hand while steering cable was disconnected?
Heat can help melt old grease, but there might be plastic bushings affected also.

A sharp bend in steering cable can cause hard movement when a load is put on it.
if all else fails try removing the fitting and spraying penetrating fluid into it

 

[robert graham]

Any idea of the maintenance history on this motor?.... Maybe the motor pivot zerk fitting was never greased in 20 years....is it a saltwater used motor?... If so, that could compound any bearing or bushing corrosion problems...

 

[jorgeoliva]

well don't think is the steering cable when you disconnected from the engine it's very smooth we tried to turn the engine without the steering rod attach and it's pretty hard with everything attach the motor turns but not as soft as it should

 

[tommarvin]

Grease all Zerk fittings, your right the cable is smooth, the problems back at the motor, It's seized up..
I've had a steering rod seize over one winter, pump all the grease you can at the end of boating season.
It will loosen up in time.

 

[flyingscott]

Is there a friction adjustment on the motor.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If the pivot tube is really corroded, many time the mid section needs to come apart. Many times you can force grease into the zerks. Sometimes you need a grease impact injection tool to force grease in