Re: CANT TURN !!
 

If the wd-40 wont free it up you might want to rap it with a small ball peen hammer a couple of times but make sure you put a block of wood against the other end of the shaft. All you need to do is break the corrosion so you can move the shaft and polish it up but you may end up having to take it apart..frank

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

Get a can of PB Blaster...turn the wheel so the steering ram is fully extended and soak the entire ramwait a while and take a brass wire brush to it or some Scotch-Bright pad...it might be easier if ya remove the connecting rod to the motor (Blaster on that nut, too)... :D...

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

No luck with the w-40.
Will try the blaster and a hammer. Will anything happen if I loosen that rusted nut or the cable nut on the oppsite side ??
Dont wanna see a hundred springs shoot out on me.
Thanks guys.

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

In your picture of the "white tube" it looks like it is broken or disconnected from the fitting. This white tube is a protective jacket for the end of the spring like steering cable. If it has been loose for a while and the steering not used then mosture, salt, etc can cause you trouble. After you get the steering moving freely, you can recenter the cable assembly to give you equal travel in both directions if needed. You might try disconnecting the cable at the motor end to see if the friction is in the cable or in the motor swivel bracket.

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

Did this just start? IN the pic of front of motor the steering link, arm from motor to cable doesn't look right to me. The cable doesn't retract anymore than what you have in the pic. It almost looks like the wrong steering link on there. Now if it turned more in the past disregard what I said.

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

my same exact thoughts Air. i think you need a different tie arm between the motor and the steering rod.

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

here's a couple pics of what my steering arms have looked like on others, they were all straight.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46...ed_boat_29.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46...s/MVC-026S.jpg

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

Buy the looks of the pic's you have a few problems!!

1 the white cap has a plastic sleeve on it to protect the cable gear and keep it clean, Yours is missing!

2 You have a bit of rust at the tube site

3 that thing looks like it hasn't seen grease in a long time!!

It's all about maintains!! You to get that cable out of the tube!!
This is going to mean losing the motor on the transom and pushing it over to one side to have room to get the cable out.

After that spray the tube and bet a wire pipe cleaner and ream that tube till its clean!

Clean and scotch brite the cable, re grease it and insert into the hole.

Most motors have a grease fitting on the pivot so you can grease them from time to time, if not take the nut off the tube on the end were the steering cable connects to the linkage.

Go to marine store and buy the nut that fits there with a grease fitting on it, now install the new not and you will be able to grease all the time!

In the winter grease well, turn a few times and then leave the motor turned so that the cable is all the way inside the tube.
This will protect it from the weather and hopefully you will be worry free in the spring!

You maybe able to get it lose with out all that work, but you will have the same problem later! Best to get it done the right way now and not worry about it anymore!!

Re: CANT TURN !!
 

I agree that steering linkage does look like the right one. Everything is really dry too . . . . you need some major lube.

Can you measure the steering linkage and post the numbers? I have a few in my garage that you can have for free.

Also Merc made a bolt on steering tube which you don't have on that motor. . . It helps when you have mechanical steering and need to make major steering adjustments. See if you have 4 holes on the face of the tilt bracket.

ter maybe.Re: CANT TURN !!
 

`Airslot,
To be quite honest, the motor was winterized in December, they did lube it up the arm. Theres a greese fitting on the underside. After that, I never touched it.
For all I know it may have been this way when I bought it in December. The batteries were dead and the engine was up. Does look like maybe that top bar should be shorter maybe. Of course I'm working daywork all this weekend till 7pm :'(