Re: Force 70 steering
First, take the bolt loose where the cable attaches to the motor itself. There is a tube in front of the motor,that the cable's 'ram' is enclosed inside of. There is a retaining nut on each side of this tube.<br />Loosen them all the way off the tube's threads.<br />Make sure the ram is no longer attached to the motor, and pull the ram out of the tube. Sometimes, they are stuburn, but this would mean you've zeroed-in on the problem.<br />Once the ram is out of the tube, try the helm. If it turns easily, you're in luck. If it does not, you will have to replace the helm (KA-CHING).<br />Try manually turning the motor left to right. If it pivots freely, leave it be, but grease the fittings on it's hinge.<br /><br />Take a shotgun bore brush of a large enough caliber to clean the tube out spotlessly. This 'tool' beats all others at this task. It makes a mess, but a moderate amount of engine degreaser helps werk the gunk and rust loose, where a garden hose can rinse it away.<br />Allow to dry all the way, and swab out the tube with WD40 or other light oil.<br />Make certain that it is shiny, no sign of rust or moisture.<br />Then glob some grease into one end, and broom-handle it thru thhe entire tube. Do this until the walls of the tube are coated with marine grade wheel bearing grease .<br />Make sure the ram is spotlessly cleaned, and re-install it into the tube.Clean the felt pads that were under the nuts with liquid wrench ,WD40 or other penetrant, and re-install the retainer nuts.<br />You should be good to go. but do this every season.It's routine maintainence.
