posted 05-02-2008 05:30 PM ET (US)        

If your cable steering is stiff or frozen solid look at the engine area first and do not use the steering wheel to break it free unless you want to buy a new helm.

The only maitainence on a cable steering system is back at the engine / rudder end. The cable should be removed from the support tube cleaned and greased with a good marine grease I recommend a marine lithium grease.

Now to make that more clear.
The plastic jacket of the steering cable ends as a large nut that screws onto a support (Tilt) tube either on the outboard engine bracket or a transom mounted set up.
From that large nut to the end of the steering cable it becomes a 5/8 telescoping rod with a 3/8 hole in the end.
(industry standard) That rod is what you want to remove from the support tube clean and grease.
The very end of the steering cable comnnects to a piece called the link arm.