Steering Jammed

[edwardmtinney]

Hi everyone,

This is not an engine specific question, but my steering is jammed. My repair guy was working on my engine and turned the wheel all the way to the left. After months of not using it, the steering rod is now stuck completely inside the bracket. Before when I had this problem, the motor was turned all the way to the right so all I had to do was grease it up and tap it in. Does anyone know how I can get it out? Thanks.

 

[JupiterJoe]

Re: Steering Jammed

I had the same happen on my 90 outboard I had to cut the teleflex remove the sterring tube soak it oil heat and hammer a smaller sized rod to push out the steering slider.
A big pain but I got it good luck

 

[BillP]

Re: Steering Jammed

Put a heat gun on it before doing anything else...this has worked for me more than once on stuck steering cables. Just don't force the steering wheel or you may break something...done that too.

 

[F_R]

Re: Steering Jammed

If you do get it to move, don't stop there. Remove the cable from the tillt tube and clean the rust out of the tube and re-lubricate it well. That is preventative maintenance and should be done on a regular basis. If it had been done in the past, you wouldn't be having the problem now.

P.S. It might be too late. Those things can be a major Royal Pain to get apart if neglected.

 

[Abelseaman]

Re: Steering Jammed

I just posted a similar problem with my Johnson 110 VRO, it's jammed fully extended, but there is no space at the end of the rod to tap it as its against the side wall of the engine well. Does anyone have a link to a diagram of how it comes apart? Is the slider part of the engine body or part of the steering cable?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Steering Jammed

You might want to disconnect the steering arm link to the engine. The engine should swivel freely. If so, then the problem is in the steering, and you have performed the first step to fixing the cable. You will want to loosen the cable nut back on the starboard transom bracket and see how loose or frozen the end of the cable is in the engine tilt tube.

 

[F_R]

Re: Steering Jammed

I just posted a similar problem with my Johnson 110 VRO, it's jammed fully extended, but there is no space at the end of the rod to tap it as its against the side wall of the engine well. Does anyone have a link to a diagram of how it comes apart? Is the slider part of the engine body or part of the steering cable?

The part that extends/retracts in and out is part of the cable. In your case with restricted space, you probably will have to lift the motor off the boat to get it out. Nevertheless, it still is required to do so, or it will only get worse. It really isn't as terrible a job as it sounds. Unbolt the motor and pick it up and let it hang from the hoist. No need to disconnect all the other stuff. Um....did I mention you will need a hoist?

 

[Abelseaman]

Re: Steering Jammed

Hi Guys, thanks for all the tips. Managed to free it last night. WD40 plus STP carb cleaner and a decent hammer, and steel rod for knocking the slider out again. Definetly a 2 man job, some patience required to allow the penetrants to seep in and do their stuff in between changes of direction.

Overcame the problem of not having a hoist, by replacing the transom mount bolts one by one with longer threaded lugs, this allowed me to ease the engine away from the transom by about 4 to 6 inches safely, which gave me the space i needed to hit the end of the slider and get it to start to "give".

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Steering Jammed

i still like my method of trimming the motor up and down a few times...........