Steering Cylinder

[Fish On]

Wow, what a coincidence.

I'd love to find a mechanic like that. If anyone knows someone like that in Southern NH please send him my way with a PM.

I wonder if anyone knows whether or not that is a grease nipple. I'll be asking the marina tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

[Fish On]

Well there are two nipples and they are for bleeding the air and not for grease. Oh well. Live and learn.

[teaser]

Thanks Fish On, I knew something was screwy about those nipples! That's why I said even if they are for greasing it wouldn't get any from me.

What a coincidence that it happened the same way to both of us, it was nice for the manufacturers to let us know what they were for though huh?

I think that's why they hide these things on us, to make us spend more money on them, them rat bastages.

Well I definately like the way you put the meaning of BOAT................. Break Out Another Thousand!

Never were truer words spoken!

How long do you think it'll take before you forget what they are and grease them again? lol

Thanks for the information on what they are, won't ever see me greasing those suckers again.

Good luck with the vessel and hope you find a mechanic nearby to help you out like me, tight lines and rising tides!

[Fish On]

What a nightmare. Marina left me a message today. Say they can't get the cykinder off without removing the engine because it's "frozen" somehow. I need to call them back tomorrow. I'm considering pulling it out of there. It would seem to me that if greasing it caused the issue then a new seal kit should fix it. Not only are they telling me they need to replace the whole cylinder for $550 in parts alone but now they have to take off the engine to do it.

I'm thining about trying to install the seal kit on my own and see where that takes me. If anyone else has any experience with this and caan offer advice it would be appreicated.

[teaser]

Good Luck! Just be careful with and around the fittings as the saltwater weakens them more than you think.

I learned the hard way, why not try another marina if you can't hijack a mechanic somewhere?

[MakoMike]

If its anything like the hyraulic cylinder I have on my boat replacing the seal is no easy job. 1st you need a special "spanner" wrench to take the thing apart, then when you get it apart there are a couple of hundred (at least it seemed like that many) parts inside that all have to go back in in the same order. Plus if the shaft is pitted or nicked you'll be doing it all for nothing anyway.

[Fish On]

When I called in this morning they had already taken the motor off the boat. Guess I'm going through with it.

We'll see how it comes out.