Hard Steering

[Shwangman]

I have a 1700 Lund Explorer with a 115 Yamaha and I swear, i have grease every zerk on the motor, motor bar, took apart the steering wheel, oiled that up. Went into the console and sprayed oil on the steering wheel ring and the darn thing still steers hard. I can live with it or take it in and have the dealer look at it but I wanted to see if anyone had any ideas that I may be missing in fixing the steering.

Thanks........

[marine_man]

How old is your explorer? Barring any sudden tight bends you may have in the steering cable it sounds like a new cable might be required. Disconnect the drag link that connects the cable to the motor and see if the motor turns freely. Then, turn the steering wheel. If it's still difficult to turn then it's time for a new cable.

Replacement isn't difficult if you've got enough room to get the new cable into the motor without removing the motor.

Good Luck!

marine_man

[Valv]

Exactly what he said !!!

Thanks a lot Rob, you didn't leave me any line to add....

[Shwangman]

The boat is a 2001. It has got better but, still tough

Thanks for the advise, I will give that a shot. Do you know the Thompson or the Code family in Lisbon? I worked with both of them in Plymouth.

Thanks again.

Ken

[marine_man]

Sorry.. I don't. I'm in implant from Central MN.

marine_man

[Outfitter17]

My steering on my 20' croft got really stiff last fall, we pulled the steering cable out put a new one in and it fixed the problem instantly. You don't want to run with a stiff/bad one very long, they can break and then you are stuck out on the lake.

[boatfixer]

Very good point Matt.

The thing with steering cables is, where they start to get stiff and tight is not a place you can get to with any lube. If the steering tube or parts of the helm are sticking, thats a different story, but if the cable is bad, replace it.

[Outfitter17]

Hey Boatfixer,

I see you are in rapids, do you repair/replace floors in boats or is just a hobby? I have to replace some floors in my lund outfitters this winter.

[SimilarIsland]

Hey Outfitter17,

Are you talking about the carpet or the plywood on your Outfitters? The reason I ask is because I just ordered one.

Thanks,

Similar Island

[Outfitter17]

I am talking about replacing the plywood on some of the outfitters, a couple of them have gotten soft. I asked valv if he had any buld vinyl in grey and I am just waiting to hear back.

I hope you ordered one with vinyl they are so easy to clean compared with the carpet, and they don't hold water like the carpet ones. I think if I had carpet on them I would have been replacing the floors on some of the older ones a few years back.

[SimilarIsland]

Thanks,

I ordered a Console with vinyl and an 90 hp Opti. You'll probably see me buzzin by the North side of your island in a few weeks!

PS. Your place really looked nice this Spring.

[boatfixer]

I primarily do motor repair now. I'm not really set up for floor replacement right now.

[Outfitter17]

Sounds good Thanks for the quick reply.

Can you repair a blown 175 EFI merc. 2001? What do you think the cost would be?