Steering Cable Question

boatrookie · #1 09-17-2012, 07:21 AM

I have an 84 V20 CC w/ a Johnson 225 and I took it out yesterday for the first time after buying it a couple of months ago and it was a blast. I noticed that the steering is a bit stiff. Is there any possible way to lube the cable because I do not see any grease fittings? I do not want to mess up the part at the console so I want to figure out what to do with the actual cable and really do not want to have to replace it. Your thoughts?

Kracker Jack · #2 09-17-2012, 08:01 AM

Try disconnecting the teleflex cable from the motor, inspect stainless steering ARM and steering tube to see if its properlly greased. Then turn the motor with your hands manually to see if it is stiff, the motor should turn very easily when unkooked from the cable.. Then go turn your steering wheel and see if your steering is still stiff. Grease all zerk fittings on your vertical pivot tube. These steps should tell you were the issue is. Good luck on your repair. By the the way to access you grease fittings on your vertical pivot shaft raise trim up on motor it should then expose the grease fittings. Atleast that's how mines setup.

Destroyer · #3 09-17-2012, 03:48 PM

Also, along with everything that Kracker Jack just said, go to your local marina/boat store/eBay and buy a Steersman nut (used to be called a widget nut) for your cable. Really, it's the ONLY way to lube the cable itself at the end, which is where 90% of the cable failures occur. They come in Stainless steel and in Aluminum. If you're boating in the ocean, get the stainless steel one, if not then the Aluminum one will work just fine. It screws onto your tilt tube in place of the nut that's there already and it has a zerk fitting in it so you can actually greese the cable itself. Don't be fooled by the zerk fitting(s) already on your tilt tube. They only greese the tilt tube but do not greese the cable inside it. The Steersman nut is the only way to greese your cable.

boatrookie · #4 09-18-2012, 11:21 AM

Thanks for the information. I will try and find one of those.

steplift20 · #5 09-18-2012, 05:19 PM

Steersman nut , do you think it will make a differance and what kind of grease you you use

macojoe · #6 09-18-2012, 06:33 PM

i use to just use same grease that i have in the grease gun for berrins, always works good.
also i would take cable out and use a wire brush (i used 12 gauge shot gun cleaning rod) spray with pb or wd what ever and clean it well, grease all when putting back together
problem is with most of these boats, you can't get the cable out with out removing the motor.

Destroyer · #7 09-19-2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steplift20

Steersman nut , do you think it will make a differance and what kind of grease you you use

I think they make a huge difference, and I just use regular bearing greese.. (the kind that's resistent to water wash out)

Quote:

Originally Posted by macojoe

Problem is with most of these boats, you can't get the cable out with out removing the motor.

Exactly right. If you're going to remove your engine for some maintenance then by all means use the 12 gauge wire brush (I like to put mine on the end of a battery powered drill) and clean out the tilt tube while you're doing all the rest of it. But the nice thing about the Steersman nut is it's easy.. Just put your greese gun on the zerk fitting, give a few pumps, move your engine back and forth with your steering wheel and you're finished screwing around with it for the rest of the
season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatrookie

Thanks for the information. I'll try and find one of those.

You're welcome. You can buy them from the maker, or most boat stores, or you can find them on eBay. Just make sure you get the right one. They come in two different metals (Aluminum and Stainless) and two different sizes (7/8" and 1") depending on the diameter of your tilt tube. You can find them here: http://www.steersman.com/index.html