My steering is starting to become stuck

[Typenice]

hello, I own a 1984 evinrude 90hp. I've determined that my steering/tilt tube, cable and ram has become gummed up because i put the wrong kind of grease on the ram last year :facepalm: my question is: how do I remove/backoff the two lock style bolts from the starboard side of my engine that are on the cable? I can get the nut closet to the engine loose but it only moves a little until it hits the nut on the cable itself. the nut on the cable doesnt turn at all and when i try to turn it, the whole cable turns so i didnt continue with that. here is a pic of the cable and the two nuts im talking about. i would like nothing more than to be able to get inside the tilt tube and clean all of that old grease out with my wire brush. thanks for any help

 

[Will Bark]

Re: My steering is starting to become stuck

Looks to me like you have the set-up as mine; hold the nut closet to the motor with one wrench and unscrew the other nut with another wrench. Disconnect the steering arm from the ram and start driving out the ram from the port side; you may have to use a drift and hammer to get the ram all the way out. I spray carb cleaner up the tube to cut the caked up grease out while using my tube brush. Hope this works for you.

 

[noelm]

Re: My steering is starting to become stuck

I think you may be trying to undo the wrong parts, just remove the cable, one big nut, and disconnect the link arm on the other end, and slide it out,after that you will be able to clean out any grease that has dried and hardened inside, if the cable is at fault, do not try to clean it, just toss it away and replace it, you are only buying some time other wise.

 

[Typenice]

Re: My steering is starting to become stuck

I have backed the nut off and have the cable visible. the link arm is disconnected. when i go to move the cable/ram with my hand from starboard it moves pretty easily i can almost slide it with one finger back and forth it doesn't seem stuck in the tilt tube like i thought. i have yet to actually get the ram all the way out not because its stuck but, because the cable retreats under my deck quickly and i simply dont have the clearance to pull it out all the way. tight quarters. when i go up to the steering wheel it still takes a lot of force to turn. that goes for when the nuts are tight or loosened on the cable. does this sound like a problem at the helm or could it just be the cable itself? do i actually need to get the cable/ram out of the tilt tube and give it and the tilt tube a good cleaning before i can make an accurate decision about replacing the cable? again it doesnt seem stuck back at the motor.

 

[F_R]

Re: My steering is starting to become stuck

From what I am reading here, the problem is in the cable or helm, not the tilt tube. Nevertheless, it will have to come out of the tilt tube if you are going to install a new cable. If there is not enough room to get it out of the tilt tube, the motor will have to be lifted off the boat. Sorry, there is no other way.

Actually, it isn't as bad as it sounds. But you WILL need a hoist to pick it up. Most likely you won't have to disconnect anything, just unbolt it and pick it up and let it hang from the hoist wihile you deal with the cable.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to rent a portable hoist.