Lube the steering

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cookbayou

Seaman
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
50
Ive been having trouble with my steering lately. It seems after the boat has sat a week or two the steering locks up and I have to hit the cable with a hammer while applying wd40 to get it to slide back. I wanted to put a grease fitting by on the motor were the cable mounts but the thread are shot. Is there any way to grease the cable? Should I store the boat with the motor turned so the cable rod is inside the motor?
 
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Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,105
Re: Lube the steering

First clean the crap out of it. Use some WD-40 or a solvent to get all the old grease and dirt off. You may need to pull the cable off and clean the inside of the tilt tube. Now regrease the steering rod with some marine grease, or better yet, some Merc Special lube 101.

When you hammer the end of the cable you can mushroom it. Be sure to file off any of this damage, or you will not be able to remove the cable.
 
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Haffiman

Commander
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
2,454
Re: Lube the steering

Unfortunately normally the cable gets corroded where no lubrication may get without a small 'trick'.
Some cables has a grease fitting, but most not.
Whenever I changed a steering cable and even often at normal service I prepped the cable as shown below.
Drilled a 3 mm hole through the inner tube (just behind the nut).
Greased the outer tube, installed the cable and extended out the cable fully.
Took a pray-can with fogging oil and filled up between the steering tube on engine and the inner cable rod.
Quickly on with the nut, and slowly pulled the cable back.
The oil went into the hole and lubricated the inner cable which is the one that usually corrodes!
Sorry for the lousy drawing, did it in a rush some time ago!!
 

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H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Lube the steering

WD40 is a drying agent more than a lubricant, so while it's good for cleaning, it leaves the device, well, dry. So follow up with a lube. I like white lithium grease.

Ironically, when you have a troublesome steering rod, it's better to leave them extended, not in. For one thing they dry out. For another, when you go to break them loose with a hammer (hit against a block of wood) it's easier to hammer in than to hammer out! BTDT. But don't leave it all the way out; you want to use the play.

When busting them loose, it's OK to put a little pressure from the wheel but just a little. There's a lot of stuff up there that will just break. Be sure your helpers understand this.
I like the pin-hole idea, but I'd seal it after I used it.
I have been told that too much grease in there can cause a lock, too, and thus if you have a widget with a zerk, grease it when the rod is in, not out. But I can't swear this is legit; others know?
 
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