Pontoon steering issues

[liebs]

We have an older Kennedy pontoon with a 40 hp Merc and console steering. We launched it last weekend and noticed that it was very hard to steer (steering wheel turned hard). I have no experience with steering issues and didn't really have a lot of time to look at it. What are some of the things I should be looking at to figure out the issue? The pontoon is up at the cabin so I can't look at it until Memorial weekend. I'd just like some ideas of what to look for before I get up there again. Any suggestions?

[marine_man]

My guess is the steering cable is starting to go out... a replacement is more than likely in your future.

marine_man

[BoxMN]

Mine is pretty new, but similar thing happened. What mine was, was that there is a "hand tightening" nut (it might even be plastic, I can't recall) on the port side where the cable comes out of the motor mount. Mine was too tight. I even think I might have tightented it, because it seemed loose. But it actually needs to be loose. If yours has that piece, try backing it off a few turns and check the steering. If it helps, back it off more. I think it is just a piece to help hold grease in, or maybe keep cable centered, not sure. But it sure did the trick for me.

Good luck.

edit - oh yeah, and be sure to grease the motor where there are zerks. Likely one on steering cable, and two on motor itself.

[liebs]

Thanks for the ideas guys. How hard is the steering cable to replace if that's what I end up doing? I'll try the things Box suggested first though.

[RebelSS]

If you haven't regularly lubed your cables, I'd bet that corrosion is the culprit. As stated, get your grease gun on the zerks and get some grease in there, ( I use teflon or PTFE waterproof) then disconnect the cable and use a penetrant spray as far in it as you can get, turning the motor back and forth with the steering wheel. If that doesn't do it, the other option can be a big pain....

[eyesonly]

I'm having the same issue now with my old Lund tyee. My brother inlaws buddy is a marine mechanic and he said I needed a new steering shaft he thought. What is more likely, cable or steering shaft ?