Mercury Outboard - Steering Frozen

[robertldawson]

I have a 1988 GlasStream ProBass 1550 with a Mercury 3CYL / 2Stroke 60HP Outboard -- original equipment of the same vintage as the boat.

While our ski boat was having "surgery", I kept the little fishing boat in our slip on the local reservoir. It was in "Boat Heaven". It fired up every time, and ran out strong. I probably fished it 5 or 6 times per week for 2 weeks. Then, my steering became "tight". Not impossible, just tight.

Fast forward a couple weeks after the ski boat is back in its home, and the bass boat is back in my parking space in our garage. I was getting ready to take my first opportunity in a while to go fishing. And, during my "pre-flight", I was checking out the steering -- which is now impossible.

I'm sure I'm going to screw up some parts names here, so I'm going to include a few pics to show you what I'm really talking about.

In order to isolate the variable here, I disconnected the steering arm (which attaches to the forward area on the outboard) from the connecty-thing (Blowing your mind with my technical jargon...) which comes out of the port side of the transom mounting plate. The motor moves freely -- smooth as glass. The steering is still bound up and unmovable. The boat is piloted from the starboard side. And, the steering cable enters the transom mounting plate from that side as well...

Just for some background... The previous owner was my brother-in-law. My sister gave me the boat when he passed away. He was "That-Guy"... Everything always well organized, everything immaculately maintained. E.G. My 23 year old carpet looks brand-spanking-new. The first time this boat really ever saw rain was during my use... And, I've kept up general maintenance - lower unit oil, cleaning, plugs & wires, etc. But, I have to admit I'm still learning about the "deeper mysteries"...

I'm guessing that if I were to take the cable and connecty-thing apart from the transom mounting; I'd find caked up lube which needs to be cleaned out. And, the steering cable probably needs to be replaced.

I'm looking for some guidance as to how to take the steering cable and connecty-thing apart from the transom mount. And, perhaps some guidance as to the appropriate steering cable. I just don't want to break something while I'm fixing it...

Thanks, y'all.

[JAFO1]

I just had this same problem with my Mariner 75. Your steering cable is probably corroded and froze up. I thought I'd never get my cable out. I think the 'connection thingy' is a drag link, but not sure. On your picture, there is a jamb nut that holds the cable in the pivot tube, loosen that nut and spray some penetrating lube in there. Then with some pounding on the other end of the cable and some heat from a micro torch, I finally got my cable out. Be careful when pounding on the eye on the end of the cable, it will deform. You may want to leave the drag link attached for this. Then, before I got the cable all of the way out, I filed the mushroomed eye down flat so that if didn't catch in the pivot tube. I used a rod to punch it the rest of the through the pivot tube. I boogered up the seal on my pivot tube, but it doesn't look too difficult to replace. I'm new at this, so I may be way off, but that is how I got my steering cable out.