Hard to Steer 1988 90hp Johnson - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Hard to Steer 1988 90hp Johnson

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Hard to Steer 1988 90hp Johnson

robalo posted 10-16-2009 03:44 PM ET (US)
After a long time looking at Whalers, I just bought a 1988 Montauk 17 with a 90HP Johnson. The boat is in great shape but the steering on the Johnson was VERY hard when I bought the boat. I figured some grease would take care of it since the steering rod, although in good shape, was dry with some old grease caked into it. I applied OMC Triple Guard through the two zerk fittings while turning the steering wheel in both directions, and that helped. But I still need to use both hands to turn the steering wheel. What could be causing the hard steering? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
hank119 posted 10-16-2009 06:58 PM ET (US)
If your steering cable has lost its lubrication, or has been corroded it can cause hard steering. Therefore, if the steering cable is old, you'd probably have a lot of difficulty steering.
If your steering cable is too short and is laid in with tight bends, this can cause undue friction.
Of course if the helm is old then maybe that needs replacement.
Another cause of hard steering is improper trim. If you experience hard steering in one direction and not in the other, trim could be the cause.
Hank

Peter posted 10-16-2009 07:27 PM ET (US)
You need to clean out all the old dried grease that's caked in the steering tube and on the rod, and then apply grease.
robalo posted 10-16-2009 09:07 PM ET (US)
Thank you Peter and hank119. The hard steering is in both directions, I suspect it might be the steering cable. How can I tell for sure if it's the cable? and if it is and it needs to be replaced, is this a job a handy person can do or should it be done at a shop?. Thanks
contender posted 10-16-2009 10:00 PM ET (US)
Take the steering cable off the engine and see if it moves freely. You can use a shotgun brush on a drill motor to clean out the steering tube. I would also take the steering cable off the helm and grease both ends, and put some grease in the steering tube on the helm....good luck
robalo posted 10-16-2009 10:42 PM ET (US)
Thank you all for taking the time to reply, I'll start with disconnecting the cable from he engine and see what I find.
hank119 posted 10-16-2009 11:56 PM ET (US)
I replaced my steering cable on my 1984 montauk about a dozen years ago. A very difficult job! There was very little clearance between the cable end and the transom with engine on boat.
Best done with engine off the boat. I have seen posts by some members who have done this with engine attached. Perhaps they could tell you how to do the replacement without completely removing the engine.
Hank
Tom W Clark posted 10-17-2009 01:39 AM ET (US)
To make the steering cable replacement easier on a small Whaler you do not need to remove the engine but loosening the engine mounting bolts will help.
If you loosen the Port mounting bolts more than the Starboard mounting bolts it will allow the motor to move away from the transom at an angle that will align the tilt tube with the steering cable and make the job MUCH easier.
You MUST do this on the 15 footer as the steering cable will not come out if you do not.
On the 16'-7" Whalers it is not strictly necessary to loosen the motor, but if the motor is mounted as low as it can go on the transom, it will be more difficult to pull the cable out if you do not.
Clark Roberts posted 10-18-2009 08:19 AM ET (US)
You can remove the two starboard mounting bolts and the lower port bolt and rotate engine slightly about the upper port bolt (engine is supported via a single bolt...holds with no problem...). Steering rod can now be removed without any transom interference. I've done this several times! Caution: if steering is stiff DON'T try to turn with steering wheel as you are likely to strip gears in steering head! Happy Whalin'... Clark
the_FishMaster posted 10-26-2009 11:33 PM ET (US)
I had the same experience as Hank. I had to remove the motor. It's not as bad as you may think. Just put the motor down all way, put a block of wood under the skeg, unscrew the motor, and tilt the motor back. You don't have to lift it, just balance it. Have a couple of guys stand there balancing the motor while one or two other friends work on the tilt tube, steering arm, etc. If you are going to do all that work, you might as well replace the tilt tube with a stainless steel one.
Good luck!

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Hard to Steer 1988 90hp Johnson
robalo	posted 10-16-2009 03:44 PM ET (US) After a long time looking at Whalers, I just bought a 1988 Montauk 17 with a 90HP Johnson. The boat is in great shape but the steering on the Johnson was VERY hard when I bought the boat. I figured some grease would take care of it since the steering rod, although in good shape, was dry with some old grease caked into it. I applied OMC Triple Guard through the two zerk fittings while turning the steering wheel in both directions, and that helped. But I still need to use both hands to turn the steering wheel. What could be causing the hard steering? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
hank119	posted 10-16-2009 06:58 PM ET (US) If your steering cable has lost its lubrication, or has been corroded it can cause hard steering. Therefore, if the steering cable is old, you'd probably have a lot of difficulty steering. If your steering cable is too short and is laid in with tight bends, this can cause undue friction. Of course if the helm is old then maybe that needs replacement. Another cause of hard steering is improper trim. If you experience hard steering in one direction and not in the other, trim could be the cause. Hank
Peter	posted 10-16-2009 07:27 PM ET (US) You need to clean out all the old dried grease that's caked in the steering tube and on the rod, and then apply grease.
robalo	posted 10-16-2009 09:07 PM ET (US) Thank you Peter and hank119. The hard steering is in both directions, I suspect it might be the steering cable. How can I tell for sure if it's the cable? and if it is and it needs to be replaced, is this a job a handy person can do or should it be done at a shop?. Thanks
contender	posted 10-16-2009 10:00 PM ET (US) Take the steering cable off the engine and see if it moves freely. You can use a shotgun brush on a drill motor to clean out the steering tube. I would also take the steering cable off the helm and grease both ends, and put some grease in the steering tube on the helm....good luck
robalo	posted 10-16-2009 10:42 PM ET (US) Thank you all for taking the time to reply, I'll start with disconnecting the cable from he engine and see what I find.
hank119	posted 10-16-2009 11:56 PM ET (US) I replaced my steering cable on my 1984 montauk about a dozen years ago. A very difficult job! There was very little clearance between the cable end and the transom with engine on boat. Best done with engine off the boat. I have seen posts by some members who have done this with engine attached. Perhaps they could tell you how to do the replacement without completely removing the engine. Hank
Tom W Clark	posted 10-17-2009 01:39 AM ET (US) To make the steering cable replacement easier on a small Whaler you do not need to remove the engine but loosening the engine mounting bolts will help. If you loosen the Port mounting bolts more than the Starboard mounting bolts it will allow the motor to move away from the transom at an angle that will align the tilt tube with the steering cable and make the job MUCH easier. You MUST do this on the 15 footer as the steering cable will not come out if you do not. On the 16'-7" Whalers it is not strictly necessary to loosen the motor, but if the motor is mounted as low as it can go on the transom, it will be more difficult to pull the cable out if you do not.
Clark Roberts	posted 10-18-2009 08:19 AM ET (US) You can remove the two starboard mounting bolts and the lower port bolt and rotate engine slightly about the upper port bolt (engine is supported via a single bolt...holds with no problem...). Steering rod can now be removed without any transom interference. I've done this several times! Caution: if steering is stiff DON'T try to turn with steering wheel as you are likely to strip gears in steering head! Happy Whalin'... Clark
the_FishMaster	posted 10-26-2009 11:33 PM ET (US) I had the same experience as Hank. I had to remove the motor. It's not as bad as you may think. Just put the motor down all way, put a block of wood under the skeg, unscrew the motor, and tilt the motor back. You don't have to lift it, just balance it. Have a couple of guys stand there balancing the motor while one or two other friends work on the tilt tube, steering arm, etc. If you are going to do all that work, you might as well replace the tilt tube with a stainless steel one. Good luck!