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Author Topic:   Mechanical Cable Steering Maintenance
btb posted 07-14-2008 09:06 PM ET (US)   Profile for btb   Send Email to btb  
I have a 1991 Boston Whaler 16 SL with (original) Yamaha 90-HP outboard which has a mechanical cable steering system, a push-pull single cable. Is this a "Teleflex" system?

What can I do to service this system? The owners manual says nothing, the after-market engine manual says nothing, and I searched here but only found a few posts about breaking free frozen units.

Preferring not to get to the frozen stage, what can I do to lubricate this? Last year I pumped some grease in there at the engine end of the cable through the grease fitting on the chrome nut - and was rewarded by never ending quantities of brown goo oozing out over everything ever since.

The system works fine - maybe its a bit stiff, but maybe that's normal.

Can I get any lubricant in at the steering wheel end?

Sebash4 posted 07-15-2008 09:13 PM ET (US)     Profile for Sebash4  Send Email to Sebash4     
Just go to search and type in "the cable guy". You'll find all the info you need. This guy knows his stuff.
jimh posted 07-15-2008 10:02 PM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
At the engine end of the steering system the steering ram exits from the tilt tube. There is an after market product called a Steersman Nut which can be fitted there in place of the original nut. The Steersman Nut has a zerk fitting through which grease can be added, and there is a scraper O-ring seal which tries to contain the grease within the tilt tube (although this does not work perfectly). Many cite the Steersman Nut as an essential addition to any mechanical steering system to keep the actuator ram and tilt tube well greased. I have one on my motor. This works with both mechanical and hydraulically operated steering actuator rams.
Casco Bay Outrage posted 07-15-2008 10:16 PM ET (US)     Profile for Casco Bay Outrage  Send Email to Casco Bay Outrage     
B -

To identify what kind of steering helm you have, look at the back of the helm.

A 20 minute Google search of Teleflex documents resulted in no guidance on lubricating the helm.

To verify where the "stiffness" is, unbolt the arm that attaches from the cable to the engine bracket and turn the wheel. This will tell you if it is the helm and/or the cable or the motor.

While a steersman nut with the grease fitting will help prevent the cable from freezing inside the tilt tube, it may be time to do a thorough cleaning in the tilt tube.

Due to a tight stern area, one method to removing the cable is to loosen the starboard bolts of the engine bracket so you can angle it. Note the engine should be touching the ground and have a helper assisting. This allows you room to pull the cable out of the tilt tube of the engine.

Once the cable is removed, clean the tilt tube and remove all the old grease. A shotgun cleaner has been suggested as an effective tool.

Clean the cable in both the extended and retracted positions.

Lube the cable, lube the tilt tube and re-insert the cable.

btb posted 07-17-2008 01:16 PM ET (US)     Profile for btb  Send Email to btb     
Gentlemen - thank you for the input.

It seems my boat already has the zerk-fitting-nut. I removed it, released the steering cable from the motor, and was able to determine that the motor turns freely.

I removed the steering cable nut from the other side of the motor, and was able to pull about 1/2 of the cable out of the motor tube - covered with old yucky-looking grease.

Through repeated oscillations of the cable I was able to get it pretty clean and I gooped it up nicely with new grease, put the whole thing back together and pumped more grease into the zerk, and worked it back and forth a few times.

I now feel comfortable that I have "serviced" this part of the boat.

Thanks again

Bill

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