To grease or not to grease.

[jerryjerry05]

Most people use regular marine grease to lube the steering.
After a while it dries out and you get a stuck cable.
I use any kind of oil.
Even trans fluid works.
Clean the cable, extend it all the way and get all the gunk out.'
Clean the tube with a tube brush. Northern Tool has/had a good selection.
Then coat the cable with oil and reinstall.
Then as you use the boat, a can of WD or any spray lube will keep it free.
The same goes or the kingpin, Marine grease sets up and your fighting a hard turning motor.
I use a thin white lithium grease. I grease about every 3rd trip.
I had to add extra grease fittings because the previous owner didn't grease anything

 

[Chris1956]

Mercury Marine makes a special grease just for the steering rod. Special Lube 101 is it's name. It is like a toothpaste consistency, and works very well.

If you boat on saltwater, you likely need to grease twice a year. Once at layup and once mid season. Freshwater is probably OK for greasing once a season.

 

[Sea Rider]

There's nothing more pleasent than steering smoothly, periodic and proper grease all the way..

Happy Boating

 

[robert graham]

Maybe that Quicksilver 2-4-C with Teflon would be a viable choice....I use it for many applications on my outboard and have never seen it harden or deteriorate.....

 

[jerryjerry05]

I spent 2 days freeing up the steering on my boat.
I have hydraulic steering and it can push through a lot.
I was trying to catch up the things the previous owner neglected.
Found the kingpins seized on one and almost seized on the other.
I ended up putting in extra grease fittings.
The bushings and the spot on the kingpin were corroded and really need replacing.
I'm not gonna spend a week or more replacing the pins.
The boats spent it's entire life in salt water and no way would it be easy.
I have solved my problem, I'm changing to a single 225 Optimax.
I started a thread on the rebuild or restoration forum.
Right now I've stalled work as the Suburban needed a new head.
Never again will I think a diesel is easy to work on. .

 

[dingbat]

I installed one of these 5 years ago. Used Yamaha "blue grease" as a lube.

Works great. I've not not added lubrication since installation 5 years ago. And that's saying something considering I'm 110% saltwater boater

 

[Bondo]

Maybe that Quicksilver 2-4-C with Teflon would be a viable choice....I use it for many applications on my outboard and have never seen it harden or deteriorate.....

Ayuh,..... 2-4-C would be My go to grease gun for such things,....

'course,,.....V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V

 

[jerryjerry05]

Dingbat, I had one of those too.
It probably stopped working about the time the PO stopped greasing.
My father had a whaler and the cable was pretty much exposed.
It started getting harder to steer.
It developed cracks in a curved section.
He somehow managed to slip a piece of hose over the cable and filled it with oil.
His steering worked better and he never had another problem