Help with steering cable

[pinellas50]

My boat has very tight steering. 96 Mariner 115 on a 93 Starcraft in case that is important. I unbolted the motor from the cable and the motor moves very freely. So I suspect the cable. The boat is equiped with a single cable rack and pinion. I am now trying to figure out how to get the cable out of the tube.

I have read as much as I can find with the search function. Here is a picture(not mine) of where I am having trouble.

I have my wrenches set up like you see in the pic. When I start unscrewing the cable end, the male threads that go into the female end of the cable are turning with the female end of the cable. It turned like this for a little bit and then everything binded up. I didn't force it because I'm not sure if this is right.

I was assuming you just unscrew the female end of the cable off the male threads and then pull the cable out of the tube. But now I am perplexed after seeing the male threads turning.

Any advice?

 

[ufm82]

Re: Help with steering cable

You actually have three moving pieces there. The nut that holds the cable to the tube, the nut that holds the tube in the tilt section and the tube itself. You need to TIGHTEN the nut that holds the tube in the tilt section. When that is tight you should be able to loosen the nut holding the cable on. Look on the opposite end of the tube for another nut- that's what "bound up" the whole thing when you turned it against the tilt-section.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Help with steering cable

I was finally able to find a diagram of how all this goes together. That along with your explanation makes complete sense to me now. Thank you.

Now I'll cross my fingers that the motor doesn't have to come off to get this cable out.

Here is the diagram in case anyone searches this in the future:

 

[j_martin]

Re: Help with steering cable

I was finally able to find a diagram of how all this goes together. That along with your explanation makes complete sense to me now. Thank you.

Now I'll cross my fingers that the motor doesn't have to come off to get this cable out.

The steering rod in the tilt tube is as long as the tube plus whatever comes out the port side. Odds are pretty good you'll have to swing the engine to get the cable out.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Help with steering cable

Yeah, the more I look at it the more I think you are right on that one.

I have access to an engine hoist. Automotive style. Are there certain places that would be adequate on the motor to attach to? Places that are desinged on the motor as lift points?

I got the cable free of the tile tube and pulled it back to get a look in there.(I didn't try and get the cable end out of the tilt tube yet) I found a lot of what appeared to be dried up grease. Is it worth my time to try and clean this stuff out, with the cable still in the tilt tube, and try lubing the cable at the sheath or is it just best to replace everything because that would ultimately be a waste of time?

 

[will941s]

Re: Help with steering cable

Probably no way whatsoever your going to be able to remove the cable end out of the tilt tube without removing the motor. Its actually simple. Leave everything hooked up, support the motor with either a A-frame or cherry picker, unbolt the motor and swing it away. Pull out the steering cable and replace the same way. Put the cable end in the tilt tube BEFORE swinging the motor back to the boat. Then just apply some silicone around the bolt holes and bolt her back on. At least you get a chance to inspect the transome behind the motor and clean out all the crud that it's collected back there. IF the cable sticks in the tilt tube.....used a piece of wood just a hair smaller then the inside diameter of the tilt tube to punch the cable end out of the tube. Clean the inside of the tube VERY well and apply a good coat of Marine grease to the inside of the tilt tube and the cable end before reinstalling.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Help with steering cable

To answer your question. You need a lifting ring that screws into the threaded flywheel. It safely lifts the engine in a vertical position.

Putting chains under bolts will most certainly damage the engine.

 

[1nebel0]

Re: Help with steering cable

J Martin is correct..Only way to lift a Merc without scratching of crushing something..Look on Ebay...40-50 bucks and well worth it

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Help with steering cable

Lift ring is ordered.

Thanks for that.

Now for measuring the cable itself. Am I measuring just the sheath, the end of the cable also, or everything including the rack? The cable is original from 1993 and the part number on it is worn and doesn't seem to match up with today's part numbers.


EDIT: Never mind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ichQI8jUTz8

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Help with steering cable

Just thought I would update the thread with the final outcome.

I got the cable swapped out over the weekend. I ended up going with a Teleflex NFB rack and pinion cable. Iboats had a very good price on them so I ponied up a little extra cash for this system. I don't know if it will be overkill on my 17' but I figured it can't hurt.

The job itself wasn't really hard. Just time consuming. The engine did have to come off the boat so that lift ring was invaluable. I had to pound the old cable out of the tilt tube. I used a gun cleaning kit to clean out the tilt tube and then I put a liberal amount of grease in the tube before putting the new cable in. The new cable slid all the way through the tilt tube with very little effort. I also replaced one nut on the end of the tilt tube with an aftermarket one with a zirc fitting so I can actually lube the cable.

The difference in steering is very significant. I can turn the wheel easily with two fingers now. It used to be a two handed affair. The old cable was stiff from the day I bought the boat, I just didn't realize it because the boat was new to me.

Thanks again for the help here.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Help with steering cable

I also replaced one nut on the end of the tilt tube with an aftermarket one with a zirc fitting so I can actually lube the cable.



Thanks again for the help here.

Do Not put grease in that zirc. It will get forced into the cable and jam it up.

Personal experience with Teleflex Dual Rack NFB system. 1 year old cable jammed up. Teleflex said the grease did it. Their fix is a new cable set. I made a steering cable cleaner/luber setup and fixed it, but it was more work than installing new cables, only much cheaper.

You should apply a light coating of marine grease to the steering rods that go into the tilt tube and second steering tube, and no more. Too much grease will hurt the cables. The other option is to install a lube nut/seal on the steering tubes and use a light oil to lube the rods. That won't hurt the cables.

If, as I suspect, you greased the heck out of the rods, and then forced some more grease into the zerc, pull it apart immediately and clean it up, or you will shortly be dealing with real stiff/jammed steering cables.


hope it helps
John

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Help with steering cable

Well, I'm glad to read this now. I have a single cable through the tilt tube. And the nut we are talking about is #5 in the diagram above(for future readers of this thread)

I lubed the inside of the tube only with grease on a gun cleaning patch. In rereading what I wrote earlier I guess it would be more clear to say I put a liberal amount of grease on that patch and worked around in the tube. None on the rod itself. When the rod came out the other end it had some grease on the end but not more than a finger tip full I'd say.

I did not hit that zirc fitting with a grease gun yet. In fact, I was debating this exact issue in my head when I got the thing. In looking at it I didn't see how old grease would be displaced with new grease being pumped in. I asked this exact same question at the store when I bought it. The guy behind the counter, who I know isn't the brains of the operation, said they sell a lot of these. I asked about the grease displacement and he said the old grease would get pushed out. I wanted to replace this nut because of rust on the old one but they didn't have a replacement in stock. So I bought this thing. And I would have greased it in the future had I not been warned.

Given what I wrote, does it sound like I am OK? Just not hit that fitting with grease?

 

[will941s]

Re: Help with steering cable

If you just put the grease in the tube, and it lubed the rod.....it's good. Thats enough to last a LONG time. If it ever feels like it's beginning to bind in the tube (grease drying out, getting hard) then just pull the rod out, re-clean the tube, re-lube and keep on going. It's alot of work, but you maintain that tube and rod every so many years, you will probably never have to buy another system. Saves ALOT of money from having to buy new systems. Also, Salt water corrodes those tube FAST, I used to have to relube mine every year until I put a tight fitting O-ring between the tube and the nut on the end of the tube were the rod comes out. It cleans off the salt water before the rod goes back in the tube during steering. It also keeps the grease in the tube and keeps the weather out. So it's been two years since the last time I had to grease and clean the system.