No Steering - none!

texan

Recruit
Joined
Aug 27, 2004
Messages
2
I bought myself an 89 Skeeter. It has an old 77 Merc 1500 Inline that seems to run a little better afer finding this board last July. <br /><br />I learned about decarbing with seafoam - my neighbor called me "cheech" and mentioned something about smoking??<br /><br />Anyway - my current problem is that I have no steering. My last outing went fine, steered onto trailer, etc. <br /><br />It's strange how it just does not work now. <br />It's a teleflex system. It does turn in one direction, but will not pull back when turned in the other direction. The cable does not appear to be broke - I can push the motor manually only if the wheel has been turned in the same direction. <br /><br />I unbolted the cable nut at the motor, and when I pull on the cable, the motor does move.<br /><br />There is a little nipple on the casing - is that for grease or hydraulic fluid? <br /><br /> By the way, I don't know anything about boats, this is my first. I had to do a search just to figure-out the fuel/oil ratio.<br /><br />Any suggestions on the steering issue?
 

Scaaty

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
5,180
Re: No Steering - none!

You need to buy a new cable/s.....corroded on the inside...and thats a grease fitting you see.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: No Steering - none!

Sounds like a helm failure to me.<br /><br />Moving to Boats.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,420
Re: No Steering - none!

Texan, The older cable systems had a grease fitting on the cable at the motor. If you pumped them up, it would grease the inner cable, but you could get excess grease on the cable which would physically stop the cable from moving in one direction. I would loosen the nut from the OB tilt tube, pull out the steering tube 3" or so, and work the steering wheel back and forth. With any luck, the excess grease will be pushed out and the cable will work in both directions.
 
Top