sticky steering?

[kerryd15]

I have a 89 blue fin side console with a 97 mercury motor. The steering is starting to get tough. Its sticky, hard to turn both ways. Is there a way to lubricate the steering cable? I have greased the pivot on the motor. I took the end apart by the motor and there are seals in the end that wont allow and lubricant past.

[boatfixer]

Unfortunately no. Disconnect the drag link from the cable to verify it's the cable that's tight. If so you more than likely are looking at replacing the cable.

[BoxMN]

Check on the port side of the steering tube right in front of the motor. There should be a black plastic "nut" on the end that the steering shaft goes through. Check to make sure that that plastic nut is loose. Meaning not tightened down at all, just enough to stay threaded.

That happened to mine, as I had tightened it since it seems like it should be... but nope, that should be loose. Glad somebody told me to check it - Something else you can check, just in case it might be your issue. Good luck.

[jentz]

I have removed them coiled them as small a coil as possible then soaked it in diesel fuel for a few days.I actually recovered one that was siezed up that way.

[kerryd15]

I unhooked the drag link. Its definitely the cable. I pulled the large nut off the other side of the motor and ran the steering rod back and forth cleaning the rod on each pass with some penetrating oil. Didn't help much. I disconnected the gear box at the wheel and the wheel spins easily. I put some lube in the gear box. I then drilled a hole in the cable the size of the straw on the penetrating oil. I held the straw in and squirted fluid in the cable repeatedly. This helped a lot. I want to do the steering wheel end but broke the drill bit. thanks for the help.

[boatfixer]

You bought yourself some time but it's not a permanent fix. When the cables get tight and stiff, it's a sign of a worn out core and inner sheath. You'll also want to try to seal up the hole you drilled to prevent water and dirt from getting in there.

[kerryd15]

I plan on using a 1/2 inch ID pipe nipple cut in half the long way, hose clamp it on the cable. I want to drill and tap the pipe with a grease zerk and line it up with the hole I drilled in the cable itself. hoping that I can pressure the grease up to the steering column.

[delcecchi]

Why not just buy and install a new cable?

[kerryd15]

Sometimes its just to see if it will work.

And it did, for now. I can spin the wheel with one finger.

[delcecchi]

Sometimes its just to see if it will work.

And it did, for now. I can spin the wheel with one finger.

I can dig that. good luck.