Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

[neptuno]

Hi, I'm new to this boating lark as I've just moved to the coast. I just bought a Shetland 498 2001 and done some maintenance on the boat and Nissan 40 outboard engine but the steering is really tight. Have any of you old sea salts out there got any answers to cure this problem?
Fairweather!

 

[crw1957]

Re: Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

Rotate the steering wheel to expose the stainless shaft from within the steering cable. This is the part attached to the motor. Spray the shaft with WD 40. It should get somewhat better. If not, you may have to replace the cable. Disconnect the cable from the motor and check to make sure the motor is rotating free. Check cable for kinks or tight bends.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

While you have the outboard unhooked from the cable, move your steering wheel to see if the cable is still binding up also. Could be either the motor or cable. Unhooking the cable will let you determine where the binding is coming from. I just went through this with my boat.

 

[neptuno]

Re: Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

Thanks, I'll give it a go tomorrow and post my results.

 

[neptuno]

Re: Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

I disconnected the steering shaft from the motor and the motor turned free without any resistance. I might have a different cable connection because there is a solid shaft from the "piston?" I can't see any cable to disconnect. I undid the main membrane "Cable Sheath"? and the piston was sliding free but still couldn't see any cable access. I WD-40'd the whole lot and the steering freedom is a lot better but not perfect. I'll have to get a second opinion from an expert. Started up the back up motor "Mariner 4" and found the gear lever was seized solid. I was told that the main motor never broke down so the Mariner was never used. Guess I got more work to do! Thanks for all your help.

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

Best thing is to get steering cable off the boat.
Hold it up so you can squirt some wd 40 into the end of the cable at engine end and let it run down for 20 minutes or so.
then get some motorcycle chain lube grease and spray that in there.
It will protect the cable and lube it at same time.
The wd will evaporate pretty quick and let moisture build up again if only used on its own.

At the beggining of this topic you said a shetland 498 2001 ?????? they stopped making the shetland 498 in the 1970's.
so its not a 2001 boat.

Great little boats the 498, i had a 1977 jubilee model (all orange interior with orange rubbers) fitted with a m,ariner 80hp on the transom.
i did reinforce the transom , and this boat shocked plenty of speedboats when opened up.

wish i still had it..


phill

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Stiff steering on a Shetland 498

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