Stiff Steering!

[Tommyd327]

I am on the last thing my boat needs to be fixed...for now. The boat is a 94 Bayliner with a 1993 120 force. I am having problems with the steering. It is very stiff and hard to turn. I have checked the friction adjustment and everything else I can see. I also greased up the shaft but it's still stiff. Do I have to replace the steering cable or what could be the problem? Also it turns hard when it's out of the water just sitting there. So I know it's not the rutter for the steering. Any suggestions would be helpfull.

Tom

 

[baxtr]

Re: Stiff Steering!

stiff cable or rusted or even over-greased king/pivot pin(not sure what it is actually called)

try disconnecting the stearing cable from the motor and see if you can pivot the motor by hand easily and check the cable.

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

we share the same boat and same problems. (ie the exhaust leak)
I also have stiff steering. I read somewhere that you should go to the rear of the boat, and turn the engine by hand from side to side. Note the difficulty.
Now disconnect the steering from the engine casing. Now again turn the engine side to side. compare it. I did it, and it ws amazing how easy it was with steering disconnected. I looked under the dash and the name on rack and pinion steering is "teleflex"..the seem to run about $200. Check it out also, and see what you come up with, and let me know. I havent ordered anything yet, because i wanna make sure i get the right length

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Interesting Topic
...you're not alone. I've got a Bayliner/Force combo (90hp) and my steering is pretty stiff.
I haven't tried any disconnect tests yet...but I'm going to keep an eye on this and see if I can find out what it would take to correct.
I haven't had my boat that long....but this will be something that I try to rectify...first I need some info too on this.
I wonder if mine is a Teleflex as well? Hmmm....or if this is also a Mercury problem...or Morse?...or?
Lets here some more from the experts on this.

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Today I got into my boat and disconnected the steering cable from front to rear. about 1/2 hour job. The big part was just getting it through the boat body/ rubber thingy near the engine. Turned steering wheel with it disconnected and it turned super easy. So looks like its just the cable itself that needs replacing and not the (helm??). Cable seems to run about $120.

 

[baxtr]

Re: Stiff Steering!

did you try turning the motor by hand with the stearing disconnected at the motor?

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

yo..TOMMYD....where r u??? we want to hear from you

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

FYI I just went to local Marine shop and bought a new complete steering cable assembly. That was the problem for me...so probably your problem also, given the same symptoms. The old cable moves with the resistance of a shock absorber on a car(or a little less)...and the new cable moves like butter..almost no resistance whatsoever. Let us know what you find. Btw cost me $175 here in Canada

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Congrats BCbaylinerboy and great to hear you've resolved that issue.
...now, correct me if I'm wrong...your boat is an (1990) 18' Bayliner Capri w/ a Force 90 right?
If so, it's exactly the same as mine and I think I have the same problem and I wouldn't mind doing the exact same thing to mine.
I went in today and enquired about a new cable and he wanted to know the type I had and the length.
Perhaps you could help me out with you specified type and lengthwise?
I would appreciate anything you offer up on this parts wise or procedure wise...it would save me a few steps.
Many Thanks!!!!

 

[Tommyd327]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Sorry guys,
I was on vacation for a few days and haven't gotten to the forrum. My boat is a 16' with 120 horse so my cables might be a bit different but did you have to replace the whole assembly or just the cable or does it all come as one piece? Mine says "Teleflex" under the steering console also. I did not try the disconnect test yet but I will soon. I have heard the rotory systems work much better than the teleflex but if you say the new setup you got works good maybe I will just try your suggestion. Do I have to remove the cable for them to be able to match it up?

Thanks guys,

Tom

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Mine is a 1994 bayliner capri 1750..(so 17.5 feet),with a FORCE 120. I replaced the cable and the steering helm. It came as a kit. Good thing too cause the new rack is a bit bigger than the old one and so would not have mated with the old helm. Plus at least you know it is all new..and so ive eliminated all problems. I pulled out the whole cable from the boat and was able to see that it was stamped with the year and the length of 15 feet right on the cable. Also able to take it right into marine shop to match it up. The hardest part was disconnecting it at the engine.Because the hole through the boat (where the cable goes through) does not exactly line up with where it attaches to the engine. Just be careful, and take your time...I worked both (the tube that the cable enters on the engine), and the cable/rod itself..a bit of wd40 to get it all to move easier. I will say i think i know what the problem was with the old one. there was/is grease all over the rod part of the cable...sems like this is a big nono....the more grease you put on it..the harder it is to move it back and forth....(it is all pre lubed and self enclosed).

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

I bought a Teleflex Marine "The Rack" system. The model is SS141 and mine is 15 feet so it actually SS14115(last 2 digits for length i guess) . It comes with Rack cable Helm and Bezel and all the mounting screws hardware. Like i said before do not grease any part of it...i did a nono..and put a bit of grease into the grease nipple on the tube at the engine (where the new rod/cable goes in)...when i tried to move the rod/cable..the grease got caught up in the rod part(at the engine) and it started to feel like my old cable. Luckily i was able to get the grease out and off of it. So DO NOT grease it!!..that said..what a difference...cant wait to try it on the water!! Good luck guys...

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Ok, sounds like I have to start with a disassembly job.
I didn't know you also got the whole lower helm bit under the dash with the kit.
First I'll see if I can see the manufacturers name on the cable and then I will look for the length stamped on it. This would save me some time.
Did you do this changeout with the boat in the water/dockside or at home on the trailer?
Interesting what you said about greasing/not greasing thing. I wonder why there is a grease nipple on the motor part?
Hmmmm....I've got to take another look at mine, but I may have a few more questions for ya' on this changeout.
Thanks.

 

[tomwin]

Re: Stiff Steering!

I would recommend getting the whole assembly as cable connectors change over the years. You could end up with the proper length and the proper manufacturer, but with a cable connector that doesn't fit your old assembly. I know I did (once).

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

i did my work at home in the driveway. I wonder about that grease nipple also. Perhaps the previous owner screwed in that grease nipple as a well intentioned fix, not realizing its a nono. The guy at marine shop said if anything. use a very very light oil..no grease.(after i told him what i found)

 

[bcbaylinerboy]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Just another note. I found the original FORCE installation manual in my files. In it , for the installation of the "Ride guide cable to outboard tilt tube"..ie steering cable....it says...IMPORTANT: Before installing steering cable in tilt tube, lubricate entire cable end with Quicksilver 2-4-c Marine lubricant.
and also to lubricate inside of tilt tube with the same lubricant.
I wonder if anyone has any of this stuff, and is it indeed a very thin lubricant?? Also I notice in the picture it does show that grease nipple.

 

[Tommyd327]

Re: Stiff Steering!

It was a good weekend. I got my steering issue fixed. I removed the old steering cable from the boat Friday and decided I needed to get a new cable. When I took the cable off of the motor, I turned the motor and it was very easy to move. It was kind of a bear to get apart but it was like a 1/2 to and hour job. After I removed the cable and cleaned it up, it didn't seem to hard to pull through but it wasn't that great either. So I ordered the new teleflex cable and it installed in about an hour maybe a little longer. $120.00 w/ tax. Now it's like I just bought a brand new boat. So that was it for me, just the new cable. If any one is going to replace their cable and it is like mine where the cable is sort of hitting the side of the hole where it comes through the wall. Don't tighten the tube the rod slides in and out of until the rod is inside or it will bend the rod and your new cable will be junk again.
I didn't have any good lube to put on the cable ends so does anyone know something good to use. I am not going to just use that crappy marine grease. Maybe that white lithium grease or something.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Same boat, same motor, same problem. The party I purchased it from a year ago had had the cable replaced 3 years ago. She still complained about the hard steering after replacement. When I started readying the boat for summer, last month, the steering wasn't hard... it was frozen solid. Replaced the cable again and land steering was smooth as butter. However, at lake Mojave last week it's still pretty hard under full power. Is this just a common issue with the Bayliner/Force combo, or do I need to do something different?

BTW, the grease nipple appears to be stock.

 

[Tommyd327]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Mine is nearly perfect now. When you are reassembling at the motor end, you have to loosen the tube the rod slides in and out of or it will bend the rod and you will get more friction when steering under load. Also make sure you clean the tube very well.
If you still have problems with the system I would maybe try going to the rotory style cable system. Also, don't use a heavy grease on the motor end of the cable. Hope this helps!

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: Stiff Steering!

Mine is nearly perfect now. When you are reassembling at the motor end, you have to loosen the tube the rod slides in and out of or it will bend the rod and you will get more friction when steering under load. Also make sure you clean the tube very well.
If you still have problems with the system I would maybe try going to the rotory style cable system. Also, don't use a heavy grease on the motor end of the cable. Hope this helps!

I've heard about the grease at the motor end issues. I'm surprised though, because of the grease nipple there in the sleeve. What did they expect us to do with it? First thing i did was hook up my grease gun to the zerk and pump away with marine grease.