Steering

steplift20 · #1 04-30-2016, 04:45 PM

1978 wellcraft steplift
150 mercury outboard
That's what I have, what it need to know is
What steering cable length do I need, I think mine is to long,
What mechanical system should I get, I have a no feedback 4.2
And do I have to take the motor off to get the new cable on
I would like to know what you guys use, and advice on getting it in
Thanks for any info
My steering now is to hard to turn can't seem to loosen it

Destroyer · #2 04-30-2016, 05:15 PM

Sorry, I don't know the answers to your questions.. But here's what I do know.
Most cables fail due to lack of grease in the final few feet of the unit... closest to the engine... and people mistakenly think that putting grease into the grease fitting on their steering tube on the engine greases the cable. It doesn't!!

AND

I have a Steersman Nut (a long time ago they used to be called Widget nuts) on the end of my cable that keeps water out and lets grease in... Everyone Needs to get one of these if they have a cable type system. It only takes minutes to install, it's cheap and it saves huge $$$$$$$. Chances are if your present system had one it would not have failed. Although they offer the nut in both Stainless for salt and Aluminum for freshwater.... just buy the stainless one. It's still cheap. Simple.

http://www.steersman.com/html/whatitdoes.html

SkunkBoat · #3 04-30-2016, 09:13 PM

I think you said in a previous post that you had the cable off at the helm end and the wheel turned OK? So you don't suspect the helm? You have a Teleflex 4.2 NFB?

Teleflex video for selecting cable length https://youtu.be/BsHvms0XLic

If you can't get the cable off without moving the motor, you won't get it on without moving the motor.
(if you hack a big hole in your motorwell you might get it out)

Starting with the cable connected normally;

Disconnect the drag link (stainless bar that connects to motor swivel arm) from the cable. Turn wheel both directions. You say this is hard. Probably the cable..but..
With motor down, Try moving the motor left/right by hand. Verify that it is not hard and that you have grease in the swivel zerk fitting and it comes out from top & bottom when you add more. (I am currently dealing with this problem)
If its good...

Turn wheel until cable is all the way inside the tilt tube.
Loosen the cable from the tilt tube using the big aluminum nut that is "captive" on the cable. You will probably need to hold the cable with channel locks or it will try to twist when you are loosening the big nut.

When the nut is loose from the motor, pull the cable out.
If there is not enough room between the motor and the motorwell, or if the angle is bad, you will get stuck.
Don't force it. If you bend the rod at the end of the cable, you will need a new cable.

Borrow a motor jack, loosen the motor, and move it enough to get the cable out.
Test the cable by turning the wheel with your little finger. if you can't, get a new cable.

bradford · #4 05-01-2016, 10:46 AM

Great post Skunk.

steplift20 · #5 05-01-2016, 11:14 AM

Skunk boat what are you doing this weekend? Lol I never disconnected it from the helm yet I did from the engine side ,the reason I would like to know, if I can, I know it can be done cause my friend changed the cable when I first got her without taking the motor off, I remember he tightened the port bolt to slide the tube over enought to clear but for some reason I can't, my baby is up there in age and I really don't want to look for trouble on the transom some plus I personally never did it, all I want is to get it right, it's harder than ever for me to get that done I also was thinking if I can use a rack system instead of the helm, Skunk boat I expect to see you in Atlantic highlands this weekend helping me,,, I will bring the coffee lol Your a good guy,
That's nj

steplift20 · #6 05-01-2016, 11:16 AM

On a brighter note I started her after coming off her winter sleep And one shot she started up That's always a good feeling

13Echo70271 · #7 05-01-2016, 11:17 AM

Skunk, I am starting to have a similar problem with no grease getting to top of steering swivel on 1989 Yamaha 150. Plenty of grease comes out the bottom. Is there any reason I couldn't drill and place a zerk near the top to try to get some grease in there? I was thinking 3/16 hole and tap for a zerk. It looks like there is enough clearance when the motor swivels. I might not get any grease in at first, but I thought I could shoot some wd40 in the hole from time to time and it might loosen up, (plugging the hole between times)then grease. Tom (13Echo70271) 88v20cuddy 89 yam 150L

SkunkBoat · #8 05-01-2016, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13Echo70271

Skunk, I am starting to have a similar problem with no grease getting to top of steering swivel on 1989 Yamaha 150. Plenty of grease comes out the bottom. Is there any reason I couldn't drill and place a zerk near the top to try to get some grease in there? I was thinking 3/16 hole and tap for a zerk. It looks like there is enough clearance when the motor swivels. I might not get any grease in at first, but I thought I could shoot some wd40 in the hole from time to time and it might loosen up, (plugging the hole between times)then grease. Tom (13Echo70271) 88v20cuddy 89 yam 150L

I am considering adding a zerk there while I have it off. Or at least a small hole

Given all the trouble I encountered, yes, I would suggest drilling a hole and spraying the crap out of it. You have nothing to lose...
Try to loosen up the dry grease with WD40 before adding a zerk and greasing.

You should try and get an exploded view diagram of it.
Get a good sense of where you are going and how deep.

The Suzuki has a plastic bushing. Assuming Yamaha is the same, if you drill in you will eventually go thru thin plastic and hit the steel shaft.
The hole in the plastic shouldn't hurt because the replacement bushings that I got have holes in them.

Good Luck!

SkunkBoat · #9 05-01-2016, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steplift20

Skunk boat what are you doing this weekend?

It's Mother's Day week and I own a flower shop....

steplift20 · #10 05-01-2016, 01:15 PM

I had the same problem years ago I am guessing a zerk is also a grease fitting? The only advice I can give you about that is when I did mine and turned the engine all the way to one side( the fitting was on the port side) the motor hit it it was a good thing I could get a flush mounted fitting and got the head to use for it to so make sure your engine won't hit it oh also it worked got the grease to come out the top too