steering issues???

[SHOWBOAT]

Launched the boat yesterday and waited for my friend to park the truck. When I went to pick him up the dock I realized I could not turn the steering wheel; no steering. Loaded up the boat and headed home.

When I unscrew the nut that connects the steering cable the motor, the wheel will turn and the cable moves back and forth. This means the issue must be at the motor? I have greased all the grease nipples on the motor. Any ideas what to try next? Thanks in advance.

Last time I let the boat sit for a month during hunting season...ggrrrr

[Capt_J]

I have experienced a similar problem. I found that even though the zerk fittings would allow me to add grease, the motor would not rotate. Apparently, so I am told, after time the grease get 'old' and hardens, combined with debris/salt/etc and the rotation point gets 'stuck'. I was able to resolve my issue by disconnecting the steering cable (as I believe you have already done); then work, manually by hand, back and forth the motor by 'rocking' at the transom mount rotation point. I found that grabbing the motor by cowling and twisting, left to right(many times) eventually worked the frozen grease/stuff loose and then applied a good fresh application of marine grade grease, then worked the motor extensively to try and be sure the frozen 'stuff' was broked free again, giving a generous grease application; the problem was cured. I hope your issue is easily resolved.

[Chalk]

Does the motor turn with the cable unhooked?

[Barhopr]

Sounds like a new cable is in your near future. Even if you get it freed, there will always be some corrosion in the cable to give you trouble and eventually break when you're out on the water.

[EddieJoe]

Sounds like a new cable is in your near future. Even if you get it freed, there will always be some corrosion in the cable to give you trouble and eventually break when you're out on the water.

Chances are, based on the description above, that the cable is O.K. What has happened is that the steering tube has frozen up, not the cable. To cure the problem after you have freed it up (get a piece of wood and a hammer, plus lots of WD 40 or similar stuff- tap the fittings back and forth using the wood to cushion the blows, spray with the WD and eventually free up the tube, take tube apart, clean and lube it), buy a fitting for the steering tube that replaces the nut with one that has a grease fitting. Fill it and it will lube the tube, and you will never have the problem again. The one I used is this one: http://www.steeringguard.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .

Trust me, I know, because I had the same problem and fixed it that way.

EJ

[RD]

Hydraulic steering and be done with those problems.

[wevans]

Sounds like a new cable is in your near future. Even if you get it freed, there will always be some corrosion in the cable to give you trouble and eventually break when you're out on the water.

Chances are, based on the description above, that the cable is O.K. What has happened is that the steering tube has frozen up, not the cable. To cure the problem after you have freed it up (get a piece of wood and a hammer, plus lots of WD 40 or similar stuff- tap the fittings back and forth using the wood to cushion the blows, spray with the WD and eventually free up the tube, take tube apart, clean and lube it), buy a fitting for the steering tube that replaces the nut with one that has a grease fitting. Fill it and it will lube the tube, and you will never have the problem again. The one I used is this one: http://www.steeringguard.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .

Trust me, I know, because I had the same problem and fixed it that way.

EJ

EJ is right on the money

[SHOWBOAT]

Thanks for the advice. I knew I you guys could provide the info I needed. Much appreciated.

[Jumptrout51]

The fittings at the steering cylinder DO NOT grease the bar. They only grease the motor hinges. You have to manually apply grease to the bar and work it back and forth to get it in,or disassemble it and force grease in.
Once you unhook your cable from the bar take a small diameter bolt and insert it in the cable hole. Use the bolt to move the bar forward and backwards. Apply automatic transmission fluid to the bar when you get it loose and work the ATF into the shaft cylinder.
When you store your boat always turn the motor so that the shaft is inside the cylinder.
They make a add on sleeve(almost like a bicycle innertube) that goes over your steering bar that you can put a small amount of grease into and keep it protected.

[Dubble Trubble]

There are 3 different points that will cause motor steering problems. Now, first. let me say I am talking about the standard, single cable steering systems, not any of the fancy stuff.

1: The cable itself is bound up in the cable housing. Lots of causes, corrosion, grit in housing, even grounding problems can melt the plastic liner causing the cable to freeze up. FIX: Replace the cable. Most of the time, trying to free up a frozen cable is only a temporary fix, once the corrosion has started, it will continue to get worse.

2: The steering tube is frozen up. This is the shaft that the cable hooks to at the motor. It slides in and out of the transom mount on the motor.(Some smaller motors do not have this) FIX: This can usually be fixed by the old method of wd40 along with some movement of the motor back and forth until it is free. GENTLE tapping on the ends with a block of wood or a rubber mallet can help. Some of the newer motors already have the fitting Eddiejoe reffered to on them, if not, it is a good remedy to keep the steering tube free.

3: The motor hinges are frozen up. This is the point at which the motor is connected to the transom mount frame. Usually, this happens after the motor has sat up for an extended period. This can be the hardest to fix, since I have seen these frozen up pretty darned good. FIX: LOTS of penetrating oil and leverage to try to free up the hinge joints. Then, see those grease fittings at each hinge joint..USE THEM regularly....If they are stopped up, remove them, use a grease gun to clean them out, then use a sharp pointed tool to clean out the hardened grease up in the hole they screw in to. Replace them, and then try to grease them. If grease still will not go in, you may have to disassemble the hinge joint (Not an easy job) to clean out the gunk....

It is also a good idea to think of your hooking up the boat to go as a moment for a preflight check, much like pilots do. Check the batteries, even start up the motor for a few seconds to be sure it turned over. Regardless of what you hear, starting the motor for a 2 or 3 seconds at idle will not hurt the water pump, just no longer. Then check the control surfaces(pilot talk). Make sure the motor will tilt and trim full motion, and it will steer all the way both ways with no binding. This will save the embarrasment of backing down and hearing that click,click,click of a dead battery or locked up steering controls...etc...and also good time to think of putting in the plug...


Dubble

[SHOWBOAT]

EJ, JT and DT et all, thanks for the insight. Quite a knowledge base on this forum....

Just so I am understanding correctly, either the hinge joints are frozen (unlikely since it only sat 1 month) or the steering rod is frozen in the tube (probably my issue).

To remedy I should attempt:

1-disconnecting the steering cable again
2-apply copious amounts of penetrating oil inside the tube, and
3-use some some love taps to the end of the steering bar, where it connects to the tiller rod to break loose
4-work some ATF into the tube after it is free to prevent subsequent lock-up
5-store with bar inside tube

Very helpfull information provided by all, I just want to make sure I am on the same page with terminology (I'm not a very high quality mechanic as some might have summized). Would hate to start tapping on a part that shouldn't be tapped on or putting oils/greases where they don't belong.

[Joe]

Thank you to all for the information on this thread. My cable rusted from the stick steer to the shaft. How big of hammer can I use on the end of this cable end? What are my options? Thank you Barry for maintaining archives!

[Jumptrout51]

As big a hammer as it takes.

[Flint River Pirate]

Dang, this is an old thread. I bet Brian forgot he even had that boat!

[SHOWBOAT]

ha, this was probably one of the reasons I no longer own that boat:)

Hope you get it fixed Joe