Steering help

[daddycajun117]

Just bought a used boat. The steering is real hard. I greased all the fittings I could and it is still hard. It has a teleflex cable, but I dunno how old it is. The boat is a 94 VIP dunno model. Should I just pend the money and replace the cable.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Steering help

You can try to get some oil in it, something light like wd-40 but you will have to discannect it from the motor and alot of time they will loosen up just from use.
Try getting some wd in there, maybe work the steering back and forth to help get the oil in there and with the cable disconnected you can make sure the hard steering isn't the motor.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Steering help

disconnect the cable at the motor, now see if they both turn easily. if so clean the tilt tube, and reinstall. these cables don't like dirty tilt tubes, and tight turns.

 

[F_R]

Re: Steering help

Agreed. That is a regular maintenance item and if ignored the cable will get so tight in the tilt tube that you can't get it out. Then you have a REAL problem.

Completely remove the cable from the tilt tube and clean the old grease and rust out of the tube, then reinstall with some good water proof marine grease. They make a wire brush for cleaning the tube. Yes, I am aware that on some (many) boats you can't get the cable out without unbolting the motor from the transom. Sorry 'bout that, but it doesn't relieve you of doing the job. Oh, and another thing, greasing the fittings on the tilt do just that--grease the tilt. They don't grease the steering.

 

[daddycajun117]

Re: Steering help

Cool I will try that this weekend. Thanks for the help