1995 Johnson 90 HP Steering Cable Replacement

[BrettUmd]

I was driving my boat this afternoon when all of a sudden the steering cable just "let go". I did not feel a jolt, or hear anything break, but one moment I was driving fine, and the next moment I had lost all control. When I look under the dash and turn the wheel at the same time, I can see the cable moving. If I keep turning, the cable will actually keep moving as well. I actually pulled about 3 feet of the cable up through the console which leads me to believe the cable either snapped or a bolt came loose on the engine end. I looked in my Selok book for instuctions, but surprisingly this topic was not covered in detail. Could someone give me some ideas of things to check. Thanks in advance!

 

[OBJ]

Re: 1995 Johnson 90 HP Steering Cable Replacement

Sounds like the cable broke there Brett. If the cable up front is moving and the engine doesn't turn...broke.<br /><br />Look near the engine end of the cable. Should be a number there telling you the length. Look on the helm...under the dash...and see if you can see a name on it...like Tele-flex, Det-Mar, Morse. Replacement cables can be gotten through a dealership.<br /><br />You might want to take a look at the stern of the rig and see if you can get the cable into the engines steering tube. Sometimes the engine has to be lifted to get the old cable out and the new in. If unsure....take it to a dealership wrench and get an estimate. Depending on the boat......sometimes these cables can be a treat to replace.

 

[BrettUmd]

Re: 1995 Johnson 90 HP Steering Cable Replacement

It is a teleflex unit. Any idea how they are attached to the engine? Screws, bolts, etc. Granted I can get the part, what is the easiest way to install?

 

[ob]

Re: 1995 Johnson 90 HP Steering Cable Replacement

The outer sheathe of the cable is attached to the tilt tube of the engine bracket by means of a compression nut and the internal or rod end is attached to the steering arm with a shouldered bolt with a nyloc nut.

 

[BrettUmd]

Re: 1995 Johnson 90 HP Steering Cable Replacement

I was able to replace the unit without too many hiccups. The hardest part was getting the new steering bar through the engine as my transom was about 1.5 inches too narrow. To get around this, I took out 3 of the 4 engine mounting bolts, then I tilted the engine up on almost a 180 degree angle, slid the old bar out and the new bar in. Works great!