My steering is difficult on a used boat I just inherited. Glastron 18' with an Evinrude 140 VRO, with Rack steering.
Initially the steering was frozen. Lubed a few zerks and worked it to point where now the wheel turns pretty easy when turning engine to starboard, but takes a lot of muscle to move engine to port.
I disconnected the steering and engine moves freely, so eliminates that.
I tried to remove the pin that is at the end of the cable from the tilt tube but could not pull it through the tilt tube.
In fact, it seemed the end sticking out the port side of the tilt tube moved separately from the rest of the cable? I am new to working on boats, but isn't the bar at the end of the cable (that gopes thrugh the tilt tube) supposed to be a solid piece? I thought I broke it so I reassembled everything and the steering works, so I don't think I broke anything, but still, it is hard and I think the culprit is a gunned up tilt tube.
I believe (based on reading) I need to remove the entire cable, and the bar, from the tilt tube, blast it with PB Blaster then clean it with a gun cleaning kit - test the cable and steering wheel while it is disconnected to be sure that is okay and a clogged tilt tube is the problem - the reassemble with the right lubricant for the tilt tube.
Am I heading in the right direction. Why won't the cable bar pull out of the tile tube. Is the solution to tap it and drive it through the tilt tube with a metal rod?
Thanks..sorry for long story...
Initially the steering was frozen. Lubed a few zerks and worked it to point where now the wheel turns pretty easy when turning engine to starboard, but takes a lot of muscle to move engine to port.
I disconnected the steering and engine moves freely, so eliminates that.
I tried to remove the pin that is at the end of the cable from the tilt tube but could not pull it through the tilt tube.
In fact, it seemed the end sticking out the port side of the tilt tube moved separately from the rest of the cable? I am new to working on boats, but isn't the bar at the end of the cable (that gopes thrugh the tilt tube) supposed to be a solid piece? I thought I broke it so I reassembled everything and the steering works, so I don't think I broke anything, but still, it is hard and I think the culprit is a gunned up tilt tube.
I believe (based on reading) I need to remove the entire cable, and the bar, from the tilt tube, blast it with PB Blaster then clean it with a gun cleaning kit - test the cable and steering wheel while it is disconnected to be sure that is okay and a clogged tilt tube is the problem - the reassemble with the right lubricant for the tilt tube.
Am I heading in the right direction. Why won't the cable bar pull out of the tile tube. Is the solution to tap it and drive it through the tilt tube with a metal rod?
Thanks..sorry for long story...