Froze steering - Page 2 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

ProfessorM · 05-01-2006, 11:05 AM

Well removed the nut on the starboard side, turned the wheel and the shaft came out as far as the wheel would turn, about 10". The part of the shaft that the motor attaches too, has a flat milled on it and a thru hole for bolt to attach to motor via linkage did not move. Is there a shaft inside a shaft inside the tube? I banged on the what seems like the shaft inside the tube, the part the motor attaches to, and it did budge a little, pushing inside the tube. I need to get this thing out I assume. Lots of cruded up grease inside there. Do I continue to bang that end all the way out of the tube? P.

ScottC · 05-01-2006, 11:09 AM

Yup, you have just proved it it stuck int he tube, get a 3/8" Ratchet extension and use it and a hammer to push the steering rod out. I use the extension because it fits in there real nice on the OMC's.

ProfessorM · 05-01-2006, 11:20 AM

I just talked to the teleflex company and they seem to think the shaft has broken thus leaving the part sticking out of the port side but allowing the starboard side to come out. There damn online site is down so I can't see what the hell they are saying. Maybe I should just hack saw the shaft off and push it thru to the port side instead of going all the way thru to the starboard side. Seems I will have to replace the whole cable anyway if broken. I will put some liquid wrench into the tube and wait an hour to see if it loosens up the thing. P.

JeffH · 05-01-2006, 11:54 AM

If you completely loosen the starboard side nut and the motor turns to where you see cable then turns back the cable is fine. I still think the shaft with the milled flat is stuck in the steering tube so do what Scott said........

You will be bashing the cable out from port to starboard or back through the steering tube. If your steering cable is restrained or has no room to flex then you must detach your cable from the helm so the cable has somewhere to go as you smash away

ProfessorM · 05-01-2006, 12:34 PM

OK I got the whole thing out of the tube. Now what? Replace the whole cable. The tube is really scumbed out. Lots of hardened grease and rust. I will have to make something up at work tonite to hone it out. The shaft is pretty bad too. Seems like it is still in one piece but pretty ugly. Will I have to replace from the helm to the motor. Probably a PIA trying to snake that thing from the motor to the helm. I assume that it is a 1 piece set up. Thanks for holding my hand. Paul

JeffH · 05-01-2006, 12:42 PM

If you turn your wheel does it do so freely? Does the cable move in and out of the casing? The inside of my steering tube looked awful but clean-up nice with the WD and brush. For the brush I bought a 3/4" dia wire brush in the Plumbing Dept at Home Depot and had a 15" drill bit extension which I put in a drill and honed away. The stainless cable shaft clean-up with steel wool........The cable/sheath is one piece from helm to engine and come in different lengths which you need to match. They are stiff and not easy or fun to put in.

The absolute must of this project is the Steersman

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

striperman36 · 05-01-2006, 12:51 PM

It's exactly like mine but I have a 90 Johnson SPL

ScottC · 05-01-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffH

If you turn your wheel does it do so freely? Does the cable move in and out of the casing? The inside of my steering tube looked awful but clean-up nice with the WD and brush. For the brush I bought a 3/4" dia wire brush in the Plumbing Dept at Home Depot and had a 15" drill bit extension which I put in a drill and honed away. The stainless cable shaft clean-up with steel wool........The cable/sheath is one piece from helm to engine and come in different lengths which you need to match. They are stiff and not easy or fun to put in.

The absolute must of this project is the Steersman

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

Wow I feel like an idiot for not posting that, I have one, I totally forgot to meantion it. It is just one of those things that are so nesessary that you assume everyone has one.

Jeff is right, the steersman is an absolute must, and is the reaon your in the trouble you are in. On all the new teleflex cables the replacment part number in right behind the steering shaft, look carefully and it should be there, this makes it easier to replace.

ProfessorM · 05-01-2006, 12:55 PM

I think I will replace the whole thing. Funny but I talked to the people at the teleflex place and they helped me out a bit. They told me under no circumstances to put one of those grease fittings on.They said the grease will end up going up the cable and drag all the crud up into the cable and ruining the cable much faster. It supplys too much grease. They told me if you boat in salt water you should take apart and clean and re lube at least twice a year min. I don't know, but I will definetly take apart and clean twice a year from now on after this fiasco. Thanks to everyone who helped. Hopefully I won't have to bother anyone with the replacement procedure

.. Paul

striperman36 · 05-01-2006, 12:58 PM

steering guard is an awesome thing. I would use it.
But the real key is to keep it well lubricated however you do it.
Replacing the whole setup every 4 years also is good preventitve maintainence.

Bill

ScottC · 05-01-2006, 12:59 PM

They are totally full of crap, they would like to keep selling you cables, grease does not ruin anything, and that little fitting has made cables last for years, including mine. No one is saying to load it up, just a pump it perfect, without that O ring water gets on the shaft and when you steer it pulls salt into your cable and tube.

JeffH · 05-01-2006, 01:04 PM

"They told me under no circumstances to put one of those grease fittings on.They said the grease will end up going up the cable and drag all the crud up into the cable and ruining the cable much faster. It supplys too much grease."

Thats funny considering the cable is full of grease when you buy it.

ProfessorM · 05-01-2006, 01:10 PM

Yeah that is what I figured. Any recommendations to where to purchase the new cable setup. Thanks. P.

MakoMike · 05-02-2006, 06:58 AM

After you get the damn thing apart, make sure that you clean it out well, before putting in the new cable. I still say a pair of grease fittings on the tube will work wonders, especially if you use corrosion block grease. When I had an outboard I had to go through the same thing once, about two years after I got the boat. After putting in the grease fitting and lubing once or twice a year with corrosion block grease, I never had to go through it again in the remaining five years I owned the boat.

ProfessorM · 05-02-2006, 10:23 AM

Thanks again for all the help guys. I have a 2 week wait till I get the darn cable, special order size, figures. I will clean out the tube and put the grease fitting nuts on. I also think I will just cut the cable at each end 2 or 3 feet in and leave it there out of the way instead of pulling it all out. All my wires and things are zip tied to it so I would have to cut it all apart. I will just run the other cable right next to it, plenty of room. Glad I have the old trusty tin boat and 15 Hp to use or I would be bummed. Thanks again for the guidance .Paul

Van · 05-03-2006, 07:42 AM

Take it out the way it went in. Meaning by pulling the cable back out.
Sometimes when space is limited, they actually install the rod through the engine just before mounting the engine to the boat. This happend on mine so I just kept sutting it off. (but it was not frozen) Anyway, If thats the case it will not back out because its too stiff to make a sharp turn. (I hope not).

If so, a sharpie told me this trick. You may have to lean the engine out from the top bolts by replacing them (one at a time) with LONG carriage bolts and use them to tilt it back so that you now have a clear shot at the tilt tube. loosen the bottom bolts so it can tilt out, but dont take them out. Once leaning away from the transom, you can beat the crap out it easily, and reinstall easily too.

The old cable should have the size (length) printed on it, they don't go by just the length you can measure, there is some difference with the rod and stuff.

Good Luck

macojoe · 05-04-2006, 12:30 AM

This happened to me once, only once!!~

I did all the above and finaly got it out by using 27 cans of PB Blaster (kidding) and a 5# hammer!

Took a few days, but came out just fine!~

After that I cleaned the tube well, added the grease nuts on the tube with new cable, grease offten!!

In the winter I now unscrew the cable pull it out of the tube, clean and bag it for the winter.
Spring clean the tube, unwrap the cleaned grease cable reinstall.

Repeat every fall!! Been fine now for 10 years! You should never never have to do this more then once in a life time, if so Quit boating!!

ProfessorM · 05-04-2006, 11:32 AM

Yup I learned my lesson. Actually thinking of upgrading to hydraulic. I found the whole set up for $495 on line, West Marine wants $700. Have to look at my cash flow,yeah right. Probably end up with the rack. Thanks again guys. Paul

quick decision · 05-04-2006, 01:47 PM

You probaly got water/consensation in the steering cable. Probaly have to replace all the cables.

thefishingfreak · 05-04-2006, 07:33 PM

just get the cable. boat us will have them on the shelf. bring it in and match it up.
snake it thru. a couple bolts at the helm. blue grease the bajesus outta it and be done. next winter don't leave it in.
i'll be arround this weekend if you need a hand i can bring the rod down too.

Raider Ronnie · 05-04-2006, 07:46 PM

:

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

i'll be arround this weekend if you need a hand i can bring the rod down too.

Mike,
I may go out for a shake down run early sun and to spend some time trying out and learning my new fishfinder !!!

thefishingfreak · 05-04-2006, 07:48 PM

scratch that paul, i'm busy sunday

ProfessorM · 05-05-2006, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the offer Mike. I think I got it now. Besides I would rather go fishing,boating too. P.

Redliner · 05-06-2006, 09:27 AM

I installed a brand new tilt tube and teleflex steering cable into my sea nymph a few years back. I added the steersman nut to it and greased it. The next spring it was frozen! You would think that the steering cable mfg would put a seal on the end of the tilt tube (cable side) and put the grease fitting right next to it so that when the tilt tube was greased it would push the grease and purge out the salt and rust and you could wipe off the glob at the steersman nut side. This way it wouldn't get pushed up the cable and interfere with it. Then again, they wouldn't be selling replacement cables,...