Stiff Steering - 1987 Yamaha 200
 

Had the typical stiff steering in the swivel bracket. Only one grease fitting in the middle of the bracket. Added 3 more grease fittings to cover the whole bracket. Pumped some PB blaster into all of them and worked it loose. Added new grease and purged old. Now freed up. Also changed the cable and helm out to SeaStar SS147XX NFB 4.2 (kit) (17 foot). Did not have to remove the motor. Cut the old cable out, then cut out a U toward the back of the stern from the existing cable hole to get the new cable in. Re-fiber glassed the U cut and painted. Cant tell it was there. I have practically rebuilt this 1987 V20 since I bought it 5 years ago. Put new fuel tank in, new throttle control, etc. Still going strong so far.

I think that grease fitting located on the tilt tube only greases the outside of the tube,not the inside where the steering rod travels threw, maybe I'm wrong but I don't think so. I have the same problem with my 50 hp on my 16 foot lake boat, steering binds very hard to steer

Way to go!!! Keep her well maintained and she will get you out and back again every time. Keep up the good work. And don't be a stranger to the forums... :clap::clap::clap:

Nice job!

Step I think he***8217;s talking about the swivel bracket, not the tilt tube

That's correct. The swivel bracket for the motor.

When you drill into the aluminum casing you know when you get all the way through, - when you hit the swivel shaft, as it will get harder to drill, that's when you stop.