so i get worn out just from turnin the steerin wheel when im on the water. which is way more often than some of my “friends” would like. question is, im sick and tired of a stiff, and possibly a dangerous situation. whats the best way to clean that nast steering rod back my the motor; will it even do anything?
ft worry.
This won’t help your tough steering much, but have you greased the steering tube on the motor? Depending on the size of the motor, there will be one or two grease fittings where you can pump marine grease in there. If it’s corroded too badly, you can get a new steering tube and put it on your motor.
Your steering cable itself or your helm unit (under the steering wheel where the cable goes in and out of) could be worn out. Make sure you don’t have any unnecessary tight bends in the system.
FWIW, I have a complete Teleflex hydraulic steering system for sale in the classifieds if you’re wanting to never worry about your steering getting stiff again…
Luke 8:22-25
Take a Picture of the Back and Helm
I just went through that
Brian
Woodfloats?
and a picture fixed it… wow, that’s easy! 
2008 Sea Fox 197 CC
2008 Suzuki 140
You can try withdrawing the steering rod from the tube on the motor (just undo the big nut) and clean it out…
Try using a wire pipe-cleaner chocked-up in a drill to ream-n-scrape the gunk out, clean the tube with carburator cleaner (or something), grease it back up and put it back together… that’s helped me before with the same problem.
Baker
Old, beat up 17’ McKee
quote:Get a picture of the front of the motor while you're at it. I had to fix my neighbors once and they had the problem Phin was talking about. They had never greased the fittings and the steering rod on the motor had corroded causes it to eventually lock up. I took it apart and cleaned it with some fine sand paper and greased it up and it worked fine.
Originally posted by BSB98Take a Picture of the Back and Helm
I just went through that
Brian
Woodfloats?
PS This was a cable steering system not hydraulic.
IMO, If your steering cable is that stiff, you have already waited too late to salvage it and be safe.
What happens when that thing snaps while you are running 30mph?
Replace the cable and call it a lesson learned. Better to be safe than sorry.
If you’re really having to crank the wheel to move the motor, then you are going to eventually have a catastrophic failure of either the aluminum gears in the helm or your steering cable.
I put a new cable in mine last fall. The hardest part was getting the old cable out. It was old and stiff. The new supple cable slid right into place and connected to the helm quickly. 45 minutes start to finish.
Now the thing steers like there was no motor attached. Slick as a whistle. I say if you’re going to take it apart, save up some nickles, buy a new cable and make it right.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
pro tip: 12 guage bronze bore cleaning brush works great for cleaning up the inside of the steering tube with some solvent. if you have to hammer out the old steering shaft be careful not to mushroom out the end of it, can use a long punch or smiliar to keep driving the shaft thru the steering tube untill it comes out, then clean inside of tube good with 12 ga brush or similiar and install new greased one.
Russ B.
Psalm 55:22
thanks for all the advice. ill get some pics up this aft. and on the note of what happens if it snaps while im goin 30?..well, personally i think i would back off the throttle rather quickly. but thats just me.
ft worry.
You wont have time to back off the throttle…you will be in the drink. Better use that kill switch.
Sea Hunt 202
Yam 150
quote:
Originally posted by loopervetYou wont have time to back off the throttle…you will be in the drink. Better use that kill switch.
Sea Hunt 202
Yam 150
actually…that was a joke. and i already have a new steering cable i got today at lunch. puttin on today
ft worry.