Frozen Steering Teleflex

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Hi All,

I started a thread on this steering problem about 2 weeks ago and have not resolved as yet!! I have attached some pictures to better describe my problem.

I really think I don't fully understand what I have going on here. The problem is that my steering is frozen. I have disconnected the drag link from the ram, and the engine swings freely by hand. I have had this problem in the past and was always able to free the steering by soaking the ram on the port side of the engine (picture 2) with PB Blaster or Kroil, back off the large nut on the starboard side of the engine, (Picture 3-4) and inject penetrant. Some time I had to bang on the ram to start it to move and allow the penetrant to seep into the ram and tilt tube.

This time the above process is not working so I devised an injector (Picture 1) to force the penetrant into the ram, tilt tube and cable with air pressure. I have been doing this for several days. No luck so far. I even got out my air hammer to vibrate the ram. Hasn't budged so far. When I used the air hammer, I had the nut and cable backed off in picture 4.

As you can see in pictures 3 and 4, the cable and sheath operate just fine to starboard from the helm with the large nut completely backed off. Cable and outer sheath move in and out of the tilt tube together just fine! Ram on the port side (Picture 2) doesn't budge. This is telling me that it is the ram that is frozen in the tube. However, I am not sure exactly how the cable and ram work inside of the tube. Does the cable slide inside the ram?? I have not tried heat as of yet and I am reluctant to do that. I'm not sure where to apply the heat if heat is the best way. Give me some clues!! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Geek
 

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Rscardina

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 3, 2010
Messages
513
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

based on the pictures..im confused.. the ram is connected to the cable so when you steer the ram slides in the chamber left and right depending on which way you turn the steering..

explain one thing... the picture shows the connecter yo made up..for squirting lube or pentration fluid.. the other photos show the ram half out..

is the ram hanging up inside the tibe or do you have ram showig on both ends..???

if your cable is junk then i say extend till most of it show out the strabod side and cut it off..then pul the rest out.. if you are not replacing the cable then try taking the grease nut off the starbord side (if you have one there)..

it should slide apart pretty easily
 

Rscardina

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 3, 2010
Messages
513
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

i just re-read your post... sounds like the same thing my friend ran into...

what we did was depending on how much ram you have to works with will determine how best to proceed...

we took a screwdrives and slid it into the steering hole on the ram and then hused a hammer to pull it out some..lubbed the portion exposed and hammerd the oother way... did this sevral times before she would move smoothly enough to free it up.. we also took the greese fitting off the nut as well as the nut itself on the starbord side... his showed signes of water..so the ram looked rusty in color.. once we got it off i used a small metal pike cleaner on a rod to clean out the inside and smacked some fresh grease in before inserting the ram again.. re-assembled eveything and added more grease..so far she is smooth and working properly.

dont be shy..give it some good whacks...i never tried heating...dont know if that would do much..
 

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Thanks for the replies! The problem I am having with this is that, no matter what I seem to do to resolve this frozen steering problem, I am getting nowhere. The thing that confuses me is that with all of the soaking with penetrants, and actually using an air hammer on the end of the ram, the ram hasn't budged inward one millimeter. It is hard for me to believe that a couple of months layup could cause corrosion that has resisted even an air hammer. I keep thinking that there is something else stopping the ram from moving inward other than rust.

I have not tried to hammer the ram the other way as yet. The insertion of a screwdriver or bolt in the ram so I can get the air hammer chisel on the ram to hammer it in the other direction is a good one. There is not alot of room for the air hammer going to the port side. (outward) If I can get the air hammer chisel on the ram sufficiently I am going to try the other direction tomorrow.

One thing I am trying to avoid is replacing the tilt tube because I hear it is really a bear even if the engine is dismounted.

Geek
 

dan4081

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 22, 2009
Messages
106
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

I think the advice in post #3 is exactly how you should go about this.
Went to take my boat out a couple weeks ago and found the steering was froze solid. Basically did what rscardina wrote in post 3 and was able to get it moving.
Found it was the piece you pictured getting stuck solid in the tube.
Once we were able to move it freely we were able to slide the tilt tube off and out. (no need to dimount engine to remove tilt on mine)
Used a pipe cleaner and pb blaster and cleaned tube smooth, put back on and re-greased.
Works great.
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

I think the advice in post #3 is exactly how you should go about this.
Went to take my boat out a couple weeks ago and found the steering was froze solid. Basically did what rscardina wrote in post 3 and was able to get it moving.
Found it was the piece you pictured getting stuck solid in the tube.
Once we were able to move it freely we were able to slide the tilt tube off and out. (no need to dimount engine to remove tilt on mine)
Used a pipe cleaner and pb blaster and cleaned tube smooth, put back on and re-greased.
Works great.

I agree,...and when it is in storage over the winter, it's a good idea to work it once in awhile...use the steering wheel, and manually move the engine port to starboard...do it once a week...I learned this on my last boat after year 4 of owning her...it took quite a bit of effort to free it up that spring....
 

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Thanks for the replies!! Tried briefly last evening to hammer the ram out of the pivot tube in the port side direction. Put a large nut and bolt (about 3/8") in the hole at the end of the ram. Couldn't use my air hammer because the chisel couldn't reach the bolt effectively. Hit it a few licks with a 2lb hammer, but it hasn't budged yet. I tried a new penetrant called CRC Freeze-off into the starboard side of the pivot tube with the starboard nut off and the cable backed off. A lot of rusty crud came out. I am going to inject a 50-50 mixture of ATF and Naptha into the port side of the tilt tube with my air pressure injector. The naptha is a very good solvent and the ATF will be the lubricant. I intend to fill up the entire tilt tube area and into the cable as far as the mixture will go toward the helm. Keep the suggestions coming!!

Geek
 
Last edited:

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,019
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Sawsall...... Cut the cable..... it MUST be replaced anyway.

If the cable is still routed to the helm you may never get it out.

Cut the cable.

Remove the ram end.

Clean the steering tube.

Remove the helm end.....

Order a new cable from iboats.
 

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Thanks Bob VT,

I am replacing at least the cable. I also have a Sawsall ready to go. The reason I have not cut the cable so far is that I have not seen any movement in the ram either in or out. If I cut the cable, I still have a ram that is frozen in the tube. I am going to give this process another couple of days before performing surgery. If anyone has any ideas short of cutting the cable or replacing the tilt tube I am ready to listen!!

Geek
 

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Hi Bobvt,

Reading your response has led me to more questions. As I said earlier, I am not sure how the steering mechanism works at the tilt tube.

Question 1 - If I free the ram, why can't I remove the cable without cutting it? My boat is a Wellcraft V20 and I have a lot of clearance on the starboard side. I have a rod box on the starboard side I can remove and since I just restored the rod boxes I know I have fairly easy access to the cable which has slack amidships.

Question 2 - My understanding (or lack thereof) of the engine end steering system has the cable from the helm telescoping (sliding) inside of the ram. How is the motion of the cable transmitted to the ram if it slides inside the ram?? Is it locked in place to the ram when the nut on the starboard side is fully tightened?? Unfortunately, I am not a mechanical engineer.

Geek
 

BLU LUNCH

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 8, 2003
Messages
1,316
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

I had to cut mine and replace the tube.......
 

rebars1

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2004
Messages
744
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

I had the same problem. I loosened the starboard nut and had to pound like crazy with the 2lb hammer to drive the ram through the tube. I used a long socket extension to drive it once the end of the ram was inside the tube. It took a few sessions to do it. Once it was out, I cleaned the inside of the tube with a drill mounted long wire brush and solvent. Regreased, and it works like new.

I had done the same as you before when it was getting stiff to turn (squirting WD40 on it), but I think that the use of the WD40 with the old grease actually caused a kind of hydro lock on the ram.

Good luck, and keep pounding!
 

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Thanks to all,

The ram is free and my steering is now working as new.

It would not be appropriate if I didn't thank you for the replies that led to the resolution.

1. - None of the penetrants worked like magic and I cannot credit any of them with substantially freeing the tilt tube ram or cable etc.. I tried the following: Kroil; PB Blaster; CRC Freeze-off; mixture of ATF and Naptha; etc. I forced, with air pressure, all of the penetrant products into the tilt tube/Teleflex ram, cable assemblies to the point that all of the above snake oil was running out of the helm and onto the floor of the boat.

2. - After the above, driving the ram to port was the answer. Credit to Rescardina!! One major breakthrough was being able to get my air hammer on the ram to drive it to port. I inserted a 3/8" bolt into the ram hole on the port side and tighten down with two nuts and lock washers. I found a v-shaped air hammer chisel that was long enough and dull enough not to cut the bolt/nuts. The air hammer was effective enough to move the ram to port about 1/4" after about three minutes of hammering. After the initial hammering, it was about another 30 minutes of hammering, lubing, and cleaning, I could move the ram by hand. I could have never, never, never, have freed the ram without the air hammer. I cannot understand how the ram could have frozen that tight in only 3 months inactivity however it did. I lubed the ram once last year. Obviously that was not enough. Teleflex recommends taking apart the cable/ram and lubricating the tilt cable/tube/ram once a year if in fresh water and twice a year if in salt water. The process to do that is on Utube!

What I am going to do going forward is:

1. - Force Fluid Film into the steering system using my air pressure injector till it comes out the helm. Fluid film is the best anti-corrosive lubricant in my estimation for salt water marine use. I was turned on to this stuff by Rodbolt, an Iboats Yamaha guru back in about 1996. I use it on my engine, trailer wherever I see rust or corrosion. Works great!! After the Fluid Film treatment, I am going to grease the ram/tilt tube with white lithium grease as per Teleflex. Oh, I have been an Iboats member for a long time, about 300 posts, not 6-7!! Had a computer problem which caused me to create a new membership titled Geekie1

2. - Add a jam nut with a grease fitting to the port side of the tilt tube to more adequately protect the ram.

Thanks for everyone's help!! I hope I can help someone else as much as you have helped me!!!

Geek
 

seabob4

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
1,603
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Geek,
Glad you got the issue resolved! It is a mazing how absolutely "frozen" the rod can get inside the tilt tube...been there, done that...
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,019
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Clean the hell out of that steering tube. A 3/4" plumber's brush for copper tubing works good and you can crush the handle so it fit's in the 5/8" tube opening. You have to almost clean it like a gun barrel.....people have used 12 gauge brushes but the plumber's brush is stronger.

Once cleaned smear it with grease. Be sure to clean and grease the threads where the steering tube attaches to the motor.

There are fittings you can install to grease the tube but honestly I have little faith in how they work.

BTW I just replaced the tilt tube in a V-4 I bought used that was rusted beyond use..... cost me over $125 and I did the work myself....... not a fun job.
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Ya gotta love an air hammer...one of my favorite tools in my shop.... I never throw away dull bits for it either...they still have a use... ;)
 

Geekie1

Cadet
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
10
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Hi Stachi,

I'm fortunate that I am a tool freak. I became one about 50 years ago as a hot rod (32 Ford Roadster) motor head and I spent a lot of time replacing headers, mufflers, tail pipes, and doing lacquer paint jobs! Air compressors and air hammers were my salvation for nearly everything!! Guess what: After all this time I still have all of the tools and every time I pull the right one out of the box, I feel vindicated. (My wife thinks I should sell my unneeded tools) Haven't found an unneeded tool yet!!! My legacy for my children is my stash of tools. However, for them to appreciate this legacy, they will need to find out to use them!!!

My 1984 Wellcraft V20 is my current Duce Roadster!!

Geek
 

GatorMike

Ensign
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Messages
902
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

I don't understand, teleflex cable is pretty cheap. Why not just pull a whole new cable with sheath? Now you have a brand new steering cable and you don't have to worry about it next time you take the family out boating.
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

As I see it , why replace it , if you can repair it....save the money for something that cannot be repaired.... ;)
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Frozen Steering Teleflex

Hi Stachi,

I'm fortunate that I am a tool freak. I became one about 50 years ago as a hot rod (32 Ford Roadster) motor head and I spent a lot of time replacing headers, mufflers, tail pipes, and doing lacquer paint jobs! Air compressors and air hammers were my salvation for nearly everything!! Guess what: After all this time I still have all of the tools and every time I pull the right one out of the box, I feel vindicated. (My wife thinks I should sell my unneeded tools) Haven't found an unneeded tool yet!!! My legacy for my children is my stash of tools. However, for them to appreciate this legacy, they will need to find out to use them!!!

My 1984 Wellcraft V20 is my current Duce Roadster!!

Geek

Heya Geek , we live pretty close to each other....where do you boat ? When I have a usable boat , I dunk it in the Delaware river....Linden Ave. A public ramp...near Ben Salem...I hope to splash my current project (pictured below)in a month or so ...Gods be willing...lol
 
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