Groot Brak
Cadet
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2004
- Messages
- 15
My Ultraflex steering got real stiff. At the motor the cable was rusted because the outer plastic got buggered. The cable itself is not available anymore, so the option was to replace the whole steering assembly. I still have a rack type unit, renowned by the local boating shops for "they stopped manufacturing it because it never breaks." Being very expensive, I had to fix the stiff steering in some other way.<br /><br />The solution. Brake fluid! I cut the plastic around the rusted bulging bit away. Mainly to assist the condition of the sleeve. Needles to say, if that breaks, you need a new one cable. Mine was rusted, but still OK. The problem was that the rust pushed against the cable, creating impossible friction. Next I drilled a small hole through the sleeve. I was carefull not to drill into the nylon cable inner. After removing the loose rust, I had to drip brake fluid into the hole, at the same time working the cable up an down. After thorougly working brake into the sleeve, my cable is loose almost to the point of new. The trick comes in sealing the sleeve again. I would recommend self gulvanising tape. <br /><br />I've tried penetrating oil before the brake fluid, with no real visible result. The brake fluid flush away most of the sticky goo around the damaged cable and added to that it lubricates the cable. <br /><br />Be warned that with different cables, it could be possible that the brake fluid might even eat away the cable and parts inside, but its safe on brass, rubber, nylon, plastic . That's after all the stuff that makes up your car's brake system.