Locked Steering

[alan ber]

1984 Mercruiser 488 engine with power steering
Only happens when first turn of steering,
Locks, requires two hands tugging on wheel . It eventually frees up
I put boat into water, start engine . Steering wheel is locked and no movement right or left
Lots of pressure on wheel it breaks then turns easily and is fine all day .


Loosened large bolt on steering cable at power steering ram .
Tried pulling cable out but will not separate
Was afraid too break cable causing more problems.
Limited clearance too enable body strength too force the separation
Greased all around but still locks
A locked steering cable what should I be searching for ?
The ram , cable, both ???

thank you

 

[Bondo]

1984 Mercruiser 488 engine with power steering
Only happens when first turn of steering,
Locks, requires two hands tugging on wheel . It eventually frees up
I put boat into water, start engine . Steering wheel is locked and no movement right or left
Lots of pressure on wheel it breaks then turns easily and is fine all day .


Loosened large bolt on steering cable at power steering ram .
Tried pulling cable out but will not separate
Was afraid too break cable causing more problems.
Limited clearance too enable body strength too force the separation
Greased all around but still locks
A locked steering cable what should I be searching for ?
The ram , cable, both ???

thank you

Ayuh,.... If the cable won't come outa the aluminum tube,......

You've found the Problem,..... The cable has to be free, within the tube,...

Take it apart, clean it, 'n Grease it,.....

 

[philbullet]

I just had this same problem with one of mine.
had to get tube out and split it with a grinder to get cable out.It was a pain in $$ with the 470 still in boat.
some how tube got bent, I guess I bump it with motor when I reinstalled it.
I also had to cut one of the tube nuts off inord er to remove from transom mount.