Stiff Steering Cable

[BlackSmoke]

Can anyone suggest what to do about a stiff steering cable. It's a 1969 OMC 171914 on a 120 hp OMC electric shift stern drive. Can it be made to work properly or will it need replacement?

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

normally best to replace it -- safety issue. But they are expensive, and before replacing it you might try greasing the motor end of the shaft (the part that moves in and out). Add grease when fully extended and work it back and forth. If you get a difference, maybe you can save a few bucks. (For penetrating lubrication in things that stick, a number of folks successfully use automatic transmission fluid. When the mechanism is freed up, you need to get grease or normal lubrication to it.)

 

[G-Daddy]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

A friend of mine would take the steering cable off the boat, clamp it in a vise and whack it a few times with a sledge hammer. Then he would oil it when if freed up a little. Next time it locked up he did the same thing. Never did understand that one.

 

[Franki]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

If its tight from lack of use, its ok to use penetrating oil to loosen it up. I just did that on mine.. I took the rack off the steering wheel end, made a funnel around the base of the cable, tied it upright and filled the funnel with penetrating oil, leave it over night, by the next morning you should find it is a loose goose.<br /><br />if its tight because of damage to outer casing, or corrosion, then you are best to replace the cable.. not good to have one let go when you need it.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Frank

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

I had an old omc outdrive 800 series, which had a worm gear for the steering. After breaking twice I decided it was time to do something else! I had happened to notice that many outdrives that looked just like mine had a cable going from the transom to the outdrive for steering(could be what you have) It turns out that omc changed the design due to every time the worm gear goes it breaks the upper housing. So I looked for this cable and when I found it, I could not believe how much they wanted for the thing…….I found a place in Wareham Ma. Called WARRS MARIE (or something like that) that sold me a No-feedback cable and some adapters, that made it look just like the omc setup, but worked much better. I think I paid $400 for it, but that is when the nfb system had just cam out so they are probably cheaper now. Find their number and give them a call….There is a chance you may already have some of the parts you need..

 

[sirlespat]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

Hi,<br />Try pulling the cable out the boat you will get extended movement and may be able to check outboard end. One of my friends get a piece of plastic conduit same lenght as cable seals one end and adds some oil. then puts the whole cable assy down conduit so oil can seep in. Seems to work well for him.<br />reagards graeme

 

[BlackSmoke]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

Thanks everyone, these are great suggestions. So, here's my follow up. How hard a job will it be to disconnect the cable, especially at the helm, then reconnect after lubricating? I just got the boat ready for the summer and don't want this project to wind up leaving it out of commission for a long time. If it might, I may wait until fall to mess with it.

 

[sirlespat]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

It might wait till next fall but ....friction = wear.<br /><br />To disconnect my cable at steering end i remove 3 screws at the rear and back plate pops off be careful the nylon gear behind doesn't fall off till you see how it goes. It is importaant which connector the steering cable goes in.<br /><br />Take it apart carefully and you should be able to put it together.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[kart33]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

I tried to loosen mine up and ended up replacing the cable and the gear box. There are aluminum gears in most boxes so don't play to much or the price goes up by $100.00 in the blink of an eye.

 

[BlackSmoke]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

Update: Steering finally gave out. U-bolt on cable end of rack and pinion broke, probably due to stress from stiff cable. I took cable out of boat. It's red plastic sheathing had OMC 380516 MORSE 4FA stamped into it. The cable was a foot or two too long for the boat. It was so stiff I had to whack it with a 4x4 to get it to move. Penetrating oil wouldn't go into steering wheel end for some reason, but was getting in through drive end very slowly.

 

[BlackSmoke]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

UPDATE: Took cable out, oiled it until I got reasonable improvement, lubed and reinstalled. Steers fine below planing rpm, but when rpms are higher, left turns are difficult and cause creaking noise in cable. Cable makes pretty sharp bend coming out of rack due to limited space. Could this be the problem? Also wondering about torque tab. Any thoughts?

 

[Scooby]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

I had the same problem as you. Save your time and replace the parts. I bought a NFB system that included the cable, rack and pinion and all hardware for $110 and a new steering wheel for $24. It's a cake walk to install and your boat will handle like a sports car.<br /><br />BTW - OMC stopped using the red cables some years ago, I believe in the late '70s. So it's probably due.

 

[Ted S.]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

You could try some Mazola corn oil onto her. I find it works best on rusty stuff and it's less fat than Crisco.<br /><br />Best wishes and good luck!

 

[BlackSmoke]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

GT150,<br />I'd love to replace the cable, but it's a brass ball cable and the only retrofits or replacements I've found are in the $400 to $500 range. Did yours have the brass pivot ball where the cable went through the transom?

 

[Scooby]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

Blacksmoke,<br /> Yes it did have that, but not realizing it till I was knee deep into the project I had to improvise. I took the front and back plates off the transom and took everything to the boat store (we have a few boat stores here that have alot of misc. junk laying around, kinda like an old hardware store) and found an aluminim sleeve and a two part hard plastic/nylon pivot ball and made it all work (about $8 in parts). In other words, sometimes you have to reengineer things on these old boats to get them to marry up to newer parts.<br />Just make sure it's secure and works the way it's supposed to and have faith in your work. Good luck.

 

[BlackSmoke]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

Well, the cable finally broke just inside the transom. Found and ordered replacement. It will be nice to have easy steering, but I'll sure miss the upper body workout

 

[BlackSmoke]

Re: Stiff Steering Cable

Replaced cable and steering was easy. Torque tab was way out of adjustment when I first tested the new cable, and boat initially dove hard to starboard when I let go of helm. Gave me a lot of respect for the importance of a sound steering cable. Readjusted torque tab and everything was just fine; what a pleasure! <br />Thank you all for your great suggestions. I'm glad I took the long road to solving this problem; I learned a lot along the way.