long day cleaning the steering cable

B

belairbrian

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
360
Steering was a bit sticky so I had to pull the cable out. but my cable nut won't clear the transom hole and the cable didn't want to come out.

Luckily I can unbolt my motor and it stays on the transom. So we (son and I) unbolted it and slid it over 6 inches giving enough clearance to pull the cable. But it was in no mood to come out. So I tapped it out with a long 3/8 extension.

Spent an hour with a bore brush from my gun cleaning kit soaked in PB Blaster. Then I wiped with patches until they came out clean.

Lubed it all up, put everything back together and now it's nice and smooth.
 
gm280

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,590
Re: long day cleaning the steering cable

belairbrian said:
Steering was a bit sticky so I had to pull the cable out. but my cable nut won't clear the transom hole and the cable didn't want to come out.

Luckily I can unbolt my motor and it stays on the transom. So we (son and I) unbolted it and slid it over 6 inches giving enough clearance to pull the cable. But it was in no mood to come out. So I tapped it out with a long 3/8 extension.

Spent an hour with a bore brush from my gun cleaning kit soaked in PB Blaster. Then I wiped with patches until they came out clean.

Lubed it all up, put everything back together and now it's nice and smooth.
Click to expand...


So you used a barrel cleaning brass brush and not Hoppe's 9...? :lol:

I bet a 12 gauge brass brush would have worked pretty well... :cool:
 
jerryjerry05

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
17,926
Re: long day cleaning the steering cable

Your lucky the end didn't mushroom when you hit it with the extension.
What kind of grease did you use when you re-assembled?
I use a grease with white lithium.
Even a spray with white lithium.
The regular marine grease gumms up to fast.
 
B

belairbrian

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
360
Re: long day cleaning the steering cable

I said I tapped it out, not beat it out. it was still a working cable, just didn't want to come out by hand. i've learned how to tap things properly and when to stop in over 30 years of turning wrenches. Heck i was using a 13oz hammer.

As for grease I used a dry teflon. it doesn't collect dirt and doesn't wash off. I agree marine grease can gum up, but I've seen white lithium do the same.

gm280 I tried a 12 ga but it was just a bit too big. My tube is a .650 ID. As for Hoppes 9, never touch the stuff. in the service we used break free CLP. Long before Winchester started putting their name on it.
 
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