Seized steering

[CascoBayStriperHunter]

Hey folks, I've got an 88 Wellcraft v20 fisherman with an 86 Yamaha 175 two stroke. The steering was fine last season but after sitting in winterization mode for the winter my steering has seized. I don't believe in that time, that anything has actually broken, so I'm hoping to get some tips on how to free the steering from its current locked position. Any similar incidents or thoughts on how to remedy this are greatly appreciated.
-P

[lathehand]

Welcome. I can only tell you of my experance with my old merc .I had too cut the cable and then remove the hinge tube at the motor and replace the tube and the teleflex cable

[mushman]

My evinrude also seized 2 seasons ago, one thing not to do is try to force it.I broke some teeth off at the steering box and had to replace it.I don't have hydraulic steering, so my job wasn't so bad.If I remember I just disconnected where the cable meets the motor and where the cable is attatched to the tube where the cable slides in.I tapped the cable end with a hammer and a piece of wood until it popped out.Cleaned out the tube really good,greased it up, and replaced with a new cable.
Still smooth as butter.

[phatdaddy]

i would take the steering arm off the end of the cable. this will allow you to determine if it's the cable or the motor that is frozen. probably the cable. take the large nut that connects the cable to the steering tube off. try to spray some pb blaster in the tube, use a rubber mallet and see if you can tap the steering cable end out of the tube. depends on your hull, but sometimes you have to take the motor off the transom to completely remove the cable and clean. hope this makes sense

edit: mushman types faster than i do

[macojoe]

Happened to me also with my Yamaha, the good thing for me was, I had mine on a bracket and after 2 days of taping and spraying I got it out, after that I took a wire brush from a 12 gauge and rem the thing clean and greased the crap out of it, after that I took it out every fall, cleaned greased and wrapped the cable end in a bag till spring, then put back together

[Destroyer]

Hi
Welcome to this site. There are a lot of knowledgeable guys here. After you get your problem solved don't be a stranger. We're always looking for new friends. Once it is free, get a Steersman guard to keep grease in and water out. West Marine and others carry them. Get the Aluminum one if you're going to use your boat in fresh water, and the stainless one if you're running in the salt. They run about $25 - $30, but can save a lot of hassle.

[CascoBayStriperHunter]

Thanks for all of the help guys. Sorry for the delayed response. I was tied up with not only trying to figure this out, but also having to launch my sailboat. (Yes, I'm dumb enough to own two boats in Maine). I ended up getting into a situation where I was going to be forced to take the motor off. I took into a local mechanic that said exactly what you did. I'd venture to say that if I had a motor lift I could have done it, but regardless, thank you for your help. Stay posted, I'm sure I'll be back.

Thanks again,
P

[chackett]

I just wen through this with my Suzuki DT200 .. cable was totally seized. I sprayed it, hit it, sprayed it, soaked it, hit it, torched it, sprayed it, hit it some more. Finally it moved .. and after about 4 or 5 days, I was able to get it to move enough that I figured out there was no way to get the teleflex cable out of the tilt tube without taking the motor off (or cutting a relief into the splashwell wall). I was REALLY frustrated.

My neighbor has a forklift for his business. One Sunday morning we went to his warehouse and it took us about an hour and a half to remove the motor, pull the old cable out, pull the new cable in, connect everything up and put the motor back on. It wasn't nearly the PITA I thought it would be. Would have obviously been a whole other story if I didn't live next to a fellow with a forklift :)

Good Luck!
Chris

[Steveib]

I'm dealing with the some problem right now. I got the boat about 2 years ago and the steering was kind of tight then. started working on it last night to get ready for the weekend. Spray with PB blaster, drink 2 beers get hammer and swing. Got it almost out. Used 3/8 extension as punch Clean shaft up and inside of housing and grease.

[franko]

common problem, replace the cable !

[GREYWOLF]

:money: I think any one who uses there boat in salt water will have this problem. I have replaced 4 tellflex systems in the last 6 years, the key is when you replace it greese the shaft well and every componet , make sure your greese fittings are clear and suply greese , if not replace them and lube every 20 hrs . also shoot some silicone lube into your steering box every 20 hrs. this will give some longer life to the system and save you some time & $$$$$$

[Destroyer]

Like I said earlier in this thread....get a Steersman Nut. They are sold in West marine and most other marine supply houses. They are a nut, with a grease fitting in them that replaces the large nut on the end of the tilt tube. If you use the grease fitting in the tilt tube you are NOT lubing your cable, only the tilt tube itself. By using a Steersman Nut you actually lube your cable itself, not the tilt tube. Since most cable failures occur within the first 3 feet of the cable (going from the engine side of the cable) keeping that section properly greased will add years and years to the life of the cable. The cost of the nut is cheap compared to the cost of a new cable and the time required to replace it.

There's not much you can do to save an already corroded cable, but once you have replaced the cable using one of these nuts just plain makes sense.

By the way... a long time ago these nuts were also known as Widget Nuts... so some of you may know them by that name... but now they are called Steersman Nuts.

[GREYWOLF]

Destroyer you are 100% on target with that fitting nut , they realy do help with a tight water seal and keeping things well greased. I got mine from DEFENDERS in CT