Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

[sike1700]

Working on getting an old steering cable off to clean it up and grease it to see of that will make the steering not as stiff...or if i should just put a new cable on...

My question is...at the nut (first nut) back at the engine..I need to loosen that correct? when i try to loosen it the whole cable turns with and when i let it go it just spins back where it started..Do i need to be a little more forceful with it..or hold the cable with something and then turn...First time doing this and don't want to screw anything up further..

Also I have taken the rod that extends from the nut and removed a cotter pin and small pin..and if i understand correctly when i get the first nut loosened i should be able to pull the cable out correct???

Any thoughts or advice would be great...any quick responses to this would also be helpful..kind of on a tight time limit with trying to get this boat put back together...

thanks for all the help you guys offer on this forum...

 

[lcmains1]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Its very hard to give any help when we have no idea what you are working on....
How bout' a make, model, etc?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Hold the cable fitting just in front of the nut with a vice grips, not to tight to crush it though.

Nut and cotter pin? Photo ?

If the cable is seized, replace it.
If the motor steering swivel is seized, then you have your work cut out for you.

 

[sike1700]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Its a 1995 Regal 202 SE 4.3 LX Bravo 1...Here is a pic of where the nut is where I was having the issue of it just spinning...

 

[sike1700]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

I do have a cable coming just in case...10-4 on the vice grips I will give it a try...

thanks...

 

[lcmains1]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Yes, hold it with some vise grips and turn, try spraying with a little oil to loosten it up. If you have taken the cotter pin and pin out the cable should pull out. However, it may be hard if there is corission in the tube on the other side.

Let us know howit turns out

 

[Jerico]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Hey Sike, not to hijack your thread, but I test drove a '95 Regal 202 SE 5.0/Alpha 1 last night. Supposed to pick it up tomorrow.

As for your question, I'd soak it down in WD40 or similar first. My old boat was a bit different setup,m but I nudged it looser & tighter rocking it and it finally loosened.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Don't use wd-40 it will gum things up. Cables are NOT greasable. You can free and lube the end where it goes thru the thru tube but do not try to fprce grease into the cable and housing.

 

[Jerico]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Thanks cr2k, I was in a hurry when I responded so let me clarify. Absolutely do NOT use wd-40 on the cable. I was talking about freeing the nut threads & where the cable sleeve connects to the back of the nut. Mine the threads were stuck, then once they loosened up where the cable sleeve flare is inside the nut was stuck. A little WD worked that loose. Clean off the WD once everything is unstuck.

Also, a sticky cable is a sign of a cable that needs to be replaced. Not cheap and a pain to do so sometimes, but it's a lot less painful than losing steering at speed and someone getting hurt.

 

[sike1700]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Ok..with your help i was able to get it the cable out...As i laid it out on the shop floor I decided to see what was all going on..I decided to take some vice grips and clamp to the end not the end of the rack...I started to turn them the end of rack flipped over then I turned it other way and it flipped the other way...I thought of taking a screw driver on the rack and try to push the notches along..Then it seemed to be doing something cause after a while as I turned the vice grips I could here a clicking noise at the rack...I took a bit Sea Foam and dribbled it on the rack area(where the teeth were visible) and continued to spin the vice grips around and around in both directions.. get to a heavy greased spot dribble more sea foam on it and keep going...at times I could see the teeth at the rack moving in each direction..I was able to spin all the way from one end to the other..

As I turn the vice grips i can really spin it quite easy in the both direction compared to when I first started the process...What's your thoughts on this...Anything else I can do or should I just hook it all back up and see how the wheel turns now or just wait till the new cable and rack arrive..

Also should I be able to turn anything back at the engine to move the lower unit back and forth..

Sorry for the long post...I think I am getting close to solving the issue though...

Thanks again..

 

[sike1700]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

bump

 

[sike1700]

Re: Steering Cable Question???? Need advice quickly!!!

Bump...anything guys on last big post....