rack and pinion steering question

[jerry place]

hello all. i've got a 87 vip with a merc 100hp that has a frozen steering cable. i've been reading a lot of posts here of people running compressed air and tranny fluid thru the cable as a cheap fix but can't seem to find where to connect compressor to. i dropped the rack from the pinion hoping to be able to disconnect the cable from there and attach compressor, but the rack and cable seem to be one piece. there are no bolts holding them together only rivets. is this possible? am i missing something? this is an older morse system btw.
thanks for any help, jerry

 

[j_martin]

Re: rack and pinion steering question

We beat this subject half to death on Scream and Fly. Here's the link.

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188864

Synopsis: You rig up on the motor end so you can force a liquid through the cable with compressed air. Best I've found is SeaFoam to clean it, and 5W30 synthetic oil for lubrication.

My Teleflex cables got tight in 3 years. With this treatment, I can steer with one finger.

hope it helps
John

 

[jerry place]

Re: rack and pinion steering question

thanks for the reply, john. i have read the posts on scream and fly. the part i can't seem to figure out is how to attach the cleaner assembly. if i go from the motor end i'm looking at the linkage shaft coming out of the tilt tube. there is a nut on either side of the tilt tube i was going to remove to attach it there but i got worried the motor would fall off on me. kinda new to this. on the helm end i took the rack off and can see a nut on the end of the cable that looks like it is holding the cable in there, but it is recessed and i can't seem to get a socket on it. hmmmm.

 

[j_martin]

Re: rack and pinion steering question

The two nylock nuts on the tilt tube hold it in place. The end of the cable has a capture nut, like a tubing flare nut holding the cable housing fast to the end of the tilt tube.

To remove it, you back off that nut, and pull the cable straight out of the tilt tube. On most boats, you have to dismount the motor and let it swing away from the transom to get the cable out. It's lifted by a tool that threads into the flywheel center hole and has a lifting ring on it. Any tree, rafter, or engine cherry picker will work just fine.

The oiler is made from an old tilt tube, or in my case from a drilled out and back cut 3/4 inch flare fitting. That threads onto the end of the cable, with the rod inside. Then you can fill up the tube with your fluid of choice, put air pressure on it, leave it tilted up, and go do something else while the juice slowly crawls through the cable. The rack end is laying in a catch pan under the console. On most cables, the rack end is crimped or fixed permanently.

They really want to sell you a new cable.

hope it helps
john

 

[Fireball AMX]

Re: rack and pinion steering question

Hey John,
I made a luber and had it hooked up with about 125psi and Seafoam for three or four hours. Didn't seem to help much if any, but it seems I need to have an outlet on the helm end to facilitate the flow from end to end. Can I just drill a small hole in the sheath right before the rack and then tape over or silicone it when finished? 1984 Ranger 350V
Thanks,
Richard

 

[j_martin]

Re: rack and pinion steering question

It should come out around the cable at the helm end. If it's plugged up with grease, it might take a day or 2 to get through.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: rack and pinion steering question

Here's some advice...when people read your post, they want to try and help with what it is that you asked...and you got good answers to your question...BUT here's the deal, your gonna waste more time energy and money...to only get less than good results...buy a new cable and Helm from Teleflex....probably cost you $175.00 on the porch...use your time, money and effort wisely...trust me, i just went down that road and im tellin you the best...