Steering replacement help??

[100333624]

Hello friends,

I have a 16' center console boat with a 1978 Mercury 80hp w/PT. I'm going to replace the steering on the boat because the one I have now is stiff and I wanna know what you guys think is a good replacement for a Teleflex 14' cable and single cable helm. Boat does 40mph as is, and I might be upgrading to a 115 tower of power through the season so estimated top speed will be between 40-50+mph propped and trimmed lets say... Do I go with single or dual cables? Can these motors somehow take dual cables? Is it really going to make that much of a difference running 2 cables at 50mph? I'm not in it for racing or anything like that, just for fishing and boating fun...

Current Teleflex part #'s:

- Cable is SSC7214 and is 14'
- Helm is SH5023 and is single helm
- 3.0 turns lock to lock

Steering right now is very tight and this is my first experience with Teleflex and from the reviews of "effortless" that I read mine is FAR from it...

Nick

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Steering replacement help??

Before changing cables-- my 1st guess on any boat with tight steering more than a few years old is not in the cables but in the tube. Sadly, there usually is not enough room to clean and lube it without removing the motor. Disconnect the cables at the motor and remove the ss rod. Inside the tube will be old dry grease. Route or scrape it out. No other way to get it out and it will not soften with grease or oil. Lube and put it all back together and your steering will be like new.

 

[100333624]

Re: Steering replacement help??

Before changing cables-- my 1st guess on any boat with tight steering more than a few years old is not in the cables but in the tube. Sadly, there usually is not enough room to clean and lube it without removing the motor. Disconnect the cables at the motor and remove the ss rod. Inside the tube will be old dry grease. Route or scrape it out. No other way to get it out and it will not soften with grease or oil. Lube and put it all back together and your steering will be like new.

Which tube are you referring to exactly?? If your referring to the tube where the steel rod part of the cable/motor meet then I haven't removed them, but I did lube the ss rod and played the steering back and forth and it felt a little smoother, but still stiff... It feels like the stiffness is in the helm, and I do have the motor off the boat at the moment... Also the cable is very tight when trying to loop it (like you do an extension cord when your done with it) and the loops are large like 3 feet in diameter, is this normal?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Steering replacement help??

On most of the newer OB motors the steering rod moves through a tube in the motor bracket, and a lot of the time old grease hardens up and causes a problem, if the motor is off then that wont effect it so it is in the steering system, most likely a bad cable. And about normal on the cable a sharp bend messes it up.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Steering replacement help??

Two cables is for 150 and up engines. You don't need it even for a 125 which I used to have in addition to a 115 on speeds I experienced to 55 mph.

Other than those issues mentioned, a big problem with cables is that the cable installers, including OEM boat builders "kink" the cable in routing thus violating the mfgrs. minimum bend radius. I have such a boat which I bought used and the orig. owner just fought it for 2 years. I trashed the cable and rerouted the new one to ensure slow, smooth bends. I can see how a CC can have just a problem.

Mark

 

[100333624]

Re: Steering replacement help??

Two cables is for 150 and up engines. You don't need it even for a 125 which I used to have in addition to a 115 on speeds I experienced to 55 mph.

Other than those issues mentioned, a big problem with cables is that the cable installers, including OEM boat builders "kink" the cable in routing thus violating the mfgrs. minimum bend radius. I have such a boat which I bought used and the orig. owner just fought it for 2 years. I trashed the cable and rerouted the new one to ensure slow, smooth bends. I can see how a CC can have just a problem.

Mark

Ya I figured I wouldn't need to run 2 cables... So then what system would be good to run on my setup?

My cable doesn't have any sharp bends or kinks anywhere.. It's just the previous owner didnt have a garage and left it outside year round, and he lives in a part of Ontario that can have some serious changes in weather. So I think that played a big role in this...

Oh and I will be installing the new system myself, I just dont know what to go with, there are so many different teleflex systems out there its so hard to choose.... Can anyone offer any advice?!?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Steering replacement help??

Ya I figured I wouldn't need to run 2 cables... So then what system would be good to run on my setup?

My cable doesn't have any sharp bends or kinks anywhere.. It's just the previous owner didnt have a garage and left it outside year round, and he lives in a part of Ontario that can have some serious changes in weather. So I think that played a big role in this...

Oh and I will be installing the new system myself, I just dont know what to go with, there are so many different teleflex systems out there its so hard to choose.... Can anyone offer any advice?!?

My last TF-M was a No Feedback rack and pinion setup. It steers well, mounts easily and the thing about the NF is that you can take your hand off the wheel and scratch you nose while still holding your b......er ah Coke.

Mark

 

[100333624]

Re: Steering replacement help??

My last TF-M was a No Feedback rack and pinion setup. It steers well, mounts easily and the thing about the NF is that you can take your hand off the wheel and scratch you nose while still holding your b......er ah Coke.

Mark

lmao... :lol:

I can do that now as well, but I have a hard time turning the wheel, it takes more effort than it should to turn and it shouldn't be that way... In the case of an emergency steering maneuver, I would be screwed while still holding my b......er ah Coke :lol: and I think I want something with just a bit less lock to lock like 2.5 would be awesome... My boat is fairly narrow and light for a 16' and this steering makes it feel so heavy and big...