new guy boat maintenance question?

[oteps]

I have a 86? v20 with a 175 hp black max outboard. I just got it running good and took it out last weekend. I am going for a weekend fishing trip aug 11-12-13.
I have a water pressure gauge, new fuel lines, filter, new battery and I am rewiring everything right now. Bilge pump works.
Is there a way to grease the steering cable?
I am new to boats. Is there any other things I should do? I would rather do it now instead of on the water.

[tartuffe]

Not that I am aware of. You can grease the steering bar(?) at the grease fittings at the motor but not the cable itself.

Also, may may know this but before I go to the boat ramp, while at the house I lower my engine and turn the steering wheel all the way in both directions. If the steering is really stiff from sitting, don't try to break it free at the wheel. You will strip the helm. Best to rock the engine back and forth. Sometimes it took a 2x4 and a 5 lb hammer on the steering bar itself to get it free if it sat for a few weeks.

[RWilson2526]

Sadly no not really. Actually the two Zirk fittings you may have on the tilt tube dont even grease the stearing rod they actually grease the tilt joints. There are those steersman nuts that go on the port side where the steering rod comes out that allows you to get some grease on to the steering rod that you could look into it.

First thing I would do though is disconnect the arm from the tiller that goes to the rod and make sure its not your motor pivot that is not stiff. Thats the problem with mine. If it is actually the rod inside the tilt tube the only way to fix it right is to pull the rod out and clean the inside of the tilt tube and reinstall. That means unbolting the motor from the transom to get it out.

Check my recent post in repairs under helm/cable replacement and you can see what I am talking about.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=17829

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

Sadly no not really. Actually the two Zirk fittings you may have on the tilt tube dont even grease the stearing rod they actually grease the tilt joints. There are those steersman nuts that go on the port side where the steering rod comes out that allows you to get some grease on to the steering rod that you could look into it.

First thing I would do though is disconnect the arm from the tiller that goes to the rod and make sure its not your motor pivot that is not stiff. Thats the problem with mine. If it is actually the rod inside the tilt tube the only way to fix it right is to pull the rod out and clean the inside of the tilt tube and reinstall. That means unbolting the motor from the transom to get it out.

Check my recent post in repairs under helm/cable replacement and you can see what I am talking about.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=17829

RW hit the nail on the head with the Steersman Nuts. They are the only way I know of to get greese on the end of the steering cable. And since that's where 90% of your cable problems happen, it just seems foolish not the buy one of them. Less than $25 and you're saving yourself a lot of future trouble.

[oteps]

I dont have any steering problems yet, I just figured that there has to be something to help it last longer. I want to do all of the preventative maintenance I can.
Anything else I should do?
THanks for all of the comments so far. I will be working on it this weekend.

[macojoe]

my motor was on a bracket so i did not have to unbolt motor. i use to pull the cable out in winter and ream the tube with a wire brush and wd, then grease the rod, wrap in plastic and reinstall in summer.

[phatdaddy]

the only real preventitive maintenance i do annually is change lower unit oil, remove prop & lube shaft, change poppet valve, remove lower unit and change water pump & housing, grease drive shaft,change plugs and t-stats, & fuel filter.

good luck and have a blast