76 Searay 220 steering locked up please help =\

[RedlineGT]

Hey guys,
I got a '76 SeaRay SRV220 cuddy, has a Ford302/MC1 drive in it at the moment i believe? I don't really know much about it, i got it from a guy claimed to be a boat mechanic dirt cheap and he hacked it all up, so im trying to get it back in the water. This is the rack on the transom that wont move, i pulled the cable out of it a little and the helm moves freely, just not once its tightened back down on this rack, i cant get it to budge, any ideas?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: 76 Searay 220 steering locked up please help =\

Well, are you saying the cable end is seized? Looks like that to me. I'd try to free it with some penetrating oil where the cable end comes out of the sleeve. Maybe put a big bolt through the eyelet and use that to pull or slightly twist the end. If it comes free get some lube on the exposed part.
I have heard of those things sticking hard though.

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: 76 Searay 220 steering locked up please help =\

If I recall, up at the steering wheel, that cable has a 'screw on' connection. I had one frozen years ago. I removed it from the boat, and laid out streight, was able to get it working. Just laying it out, bending/flexing it, seems to free them up. Then clean & lubracate and reinstall.

 

[Don S]

Re: 76 Searay 220 steering locked up please help =\

If you can remove the nut, pull the cable end out of the aluminum tube and the wheel turns ok, but when you put it back in it won't, then you need a new cable. The inner cable wears a groove in the outer cable and cause it to lock up when you have a little back pressure on it.
You will need the complete helm and cable assembly. They don't even make cables like that anymore.