Steering Cable

[Brim4Me]

I posted earlier about having purchased a boat with a 25 merc that had been sitting since 95. I was tearing everything down in the boat this weekend, and I noticed the steering cable (its a stick steer)is froze up. Is there a way I can tear it down so I can save it. I priced a new one and they are about $120 bucks. Would rather not invest that much money on one single part going on this boat unless I really have to. Is there a way I can tear it down or do I just keep pouring oil down it and hope it frees up? Its a "stick steer II" model, if that helps any.

 

[Kenny Bush]

Re: Steering Cable

Unhook the cable, and make you some kind of fitting on the end of the cable(I use one of those little red spray tubes on chemtool, and then I ductape the heck out of it. Hook it up to my favorite spray can and BAM...) and pressurize the cable with penetrant, then lubricant.... I will offer a disclaimer of results, because you are on your own.... Once cancer is in the cable, I have seen nothing but remission. A new cable is the only long term fix.....

 

[y not]

Re: Steering Cable

I had a stuck cable a few years back and was told to try diesel run down between the inner cable and outer sleeve to free up the old grease. It worked a treat!!!!! make sure to put pleanty of new grease in once the old stuff has washed out. That said, if it is cancer not just dried up grease, save the frustration and buy a new cable

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Steering Cable

Where do you add grease to the cable ? Is it at the bracket where the 2 grease nipples are.. at the motor end ?

 

[y not]

Re: Steering Cable

I was advised to put some on the inner shaft and just work it in and out to provide some lubrication within the cable.Apparently water sometimes gets back into the cable and the grease also helps keeps it at bay. I think where you are saying (at the grease nipples)is for trim tilt tube assy only,most of my experiance is on the older OMC motors so I could be wrong, it has happened more than once before in my life.