Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

[vesselgreenhead]

I have a rack teleflex "no feedback" helm that has become more and more difficult to turn over the past couple of seasons. I have to use both hands to turn it now and it's even more difficult during cold weather. Besides greasing the motor where the rod goes through it, is there another place to grease or is there an adjustment that can be made to allow for easier turning. Can something break on me while forcing it to turn?? If it matters, it's connected to a 150 mercury and has about 12' of cable from the helm to the motor. Any and all suggestions appreciated. Thank You !

 

[jimchere]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

Your problem is probably in one of four places. It's either the motor not turning on its mount, the rod getting stuck inside the tilt tube, the cable itself, or the helm unit. Easiest way I think is to first disconnect the steering rod from the motor (the one nut) and then see if the motor turns freely to rule that out. If that's okay, then I would loosen the nut that holds the cable to the tilt tube and try and pull the cable/rod out of the tilt tube. If it doesn't move easy then there's your problem. Better to get it out now and clean out the inside of the tilt tube than wait until it freezes up, which is a PITA to get out once it freezes up. If that's okay, then either your cable is messed up or its the helm unit (least likely, IMO). If you get to that point, then remove the cable from the helm unit and see if the helm unit is smooth and easy. Most likely, I bet your steering rod is freezing up inside the tilt tube. I went through this problem last spring so let me know what you find. Edit: One more thing, yes if you force it you will possibly damage the helm unit or break your cable. Expensive and dangerous if your going fast.

 

[snohomishbaddawg]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

got to agree with jimchere, chances are it is in the tilt tube. get this taken care of before you have a serious problem! I can't imagine loosing the steering at 40mph, but I am sure it would be a ride you wouldn't forget!

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

Has any one "Gutted " their Teliflex steering cables .. cleaned .. and reassembled?

 

[vegard]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

it is not possible to take them apart, but I have lubed them, by dripping fluid in the rod end (tok if off the motor first), and then working it back and forth. I did that a whole lot, and now it works like new.

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

I have saved several cables using the following method. Remove the cable from the boat, and hose clamp a suitable diameter 6" length of heater hose to the cable. Pour some Marvel Mystery oil or ATF into the heater hose, then clamp a tire valve stem into the other end of the hose. Pressurize to 15 PSI and leave it for a couple days. When you see the red stuff dripping out the other end of the cable it should work nice and easy.

 

[Kesh]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

lol, losing steering is kinda scary....happened to my Tai-Tai at 25 mph... <br />we made the mambo-tango turn !!! <br /><br />very strange sensation to feel a steering wheel in your hands that does not respond..lmao<br /><br />We frequently lube the system. The guys at the marina apply heat to the outboard to make the old grease flow out and then put new grease in...this is just a once per year procedure... after that, regular re-greasing is all we make. Edit: dunno if this is the suggested manufacturer maintenance procedure, but it works for us.

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

Hey thanks for the tip on lubin it up I will do that this winter ... jut like my dirt bike cables

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

The tilt tube needs to be claeaned out and not just lubed.My steering froze ,I greased it and it worked for 1 more day and froze up again.Get the rod all the way out and spray it with a penetrating lube,retract it several times and clean it off witha paper towel.Repeat this many times and the crap will just keep coming out of the tube.You will feel it getting easier as you do it.When you feel you have cleaned it enough(at least 10 times) put a finishing spray of lube on.Some penetrating oils will dry and you dont want this.I used one-lube by slick 50.I spray it one a week and i dont use grease at all any more.Spray lube wont get clogged as grease will.Charlie

 

[jimchere]

Re: Teleflex Steering very difficult to turn. Suggestions Please

For cleaning out the tilt tube I used PB Blaster and a soft wire bore brush attachment with extension on my electric drill (forget the brush size but it was about the size of a 20 gauge shotgun cleaning brush). Then after doing that for a while, I got out the gun cleaning kit and used the handled rod that I normally use to punch clean a gun bore, with some rags, and cleaned it out good and dry. Then I greased the heck out of the inside of the tube using marine grease and put it all back together. Worked great.