Steering cable

[Volphin]

My dad is complaining about stiff steering on his '86 Winner with 115 Merc OB. I'm thinking I'll have to replace the steering cable. Could it be the actual helm?

 

[snowbrd84]

Re: Steering cable

unhook the tiller/pivoting arm that connects the steering cable to the outboard. Then try and turn the wheel, if it is stiff at all then your steering tube probably has corrosion/is dirty/needs lube. If the wheel now spins freely, then the kingpin in the outboard bracket (vertical connection point from the motor to the bracket where the motor pivots left/right) probably has corrosion/needs lube. If its the kingpin, you need to heat up the tube really good with a heat gun and try and pump grease in to force the old grease out. It can be a real pain...

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Steering cable

More than likely its the motor end of the cable, the grease gets old and stiff but it can be cleaned out and returned to service. you may have to pull it out of the sleeve that runs through the motor base and use the shot gun style of wire brushed to clean out the old grease, then it should be just fine.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Steering cable

unhook the tiller/pivoting arm that connects the steering cable to the outboard. Then try and turn the wheel, if it is stiff at all then your steering tube probably has corrosion/is dirty/needs lube. If the wheel now spins freely, then the kingpin in the outboard bracket (vertical connection point from the motor to the bracket where the motor pivots left/right) probably has corrosion/needs lube. If its the kingpin, you need to heat up the tube really good with a heat gun and try and pump grease in to force the old grease out. It can be a real pain...

I'll check it and report my findings. Thanks!

 

[Volphin]

Re: Steering cable

Good idea! I have plenty of those brushes! Maybe I'll hook it to my drill gun...
So... would that mean I have a 12 Ga Black & Decker?