Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

[lncovert]

I have an old 1959 boat that has a cable and pulley steering system. It is extremely difficult to turn at 10 mph or greater and the pin keeps breaking. I have tried putting grease on the pulleys and that barely helped any. I'm am thinking that I should put some grease on the actual motor where it turns. Is this typicaly that one would need to do this? The problem is that there is a little pin in my steering column that locks the steering column to the steering drum. The pin is only 1/8" in diameter by 1" long. It broke twice on us last weekend. When the pin breaks, we have no steering. I tried a 3/16" pin but it is too big to fit. There is a nut behind the steering wheel that holds the drum on and this isn't the problem...I made sure it wasn't too tight.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

How tight is the steering cable its self? Have you checked all the pulleys to see if they are free or not broken? How hard is the motor its self to turn when you man handle it? You may be able to undo the steering cable off of the motor to assure that it isn't in the motor mount it's self causing the problem. There can be several pulleys on those old boats leading all the way up to the driver's console. I had three old project boats with that old style steering, one I stripped and junked. There are several factors that can cause this problem and it could be a combination of, just my 2 cents. I believe it wouldn't hurt to lube the pivot point on the motor.

 

[lncovert]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

I think the pulleys spin, but now that I think of it I can't remember if I have actually looked at this closely. I'll check that tomorrow. There are 2 pulleys behind the dashboard, another set of pulleys at the stern of the boat (starboard side) by the battery and then 1 pulley portside at the stern. I mean, the steering will turn relatively easy at rest, but once you throttle up it's almost impossible to turn. I realize you have more inertia to overcome at speed, but it shouldn't break the tension pin in the steering column.

How tight is the steering cable its self? Have you checked all the pulleys to see if they are free or not broken? There can be several pulleys on those old boats leading all the way up to the driver's console. I had three old project boats with that old style steering, one I stripped and junked.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

Another thing to consider is that the pivot point on the motor could be worn, another reason to check the motor end of it. I would check it through from driver's console back or motor to console either way you would like. It would make since to undo the cable mount at the motor and see what is going on at the motor pivot point. If it doesn't show any movement (if motor doesn't wobble on the mount) or if there is no sign of ware, then put some grease to it, it may even have a grease fitting. On the pulleys most likely if you see a through hull bolt there is a pulley anchored to it, if your boat is anthing like the ones I have.

 

[lncovert]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

Ahhh, you're right, I just found some grease fittings on the motor for the pivot. I will squeak some grease in there tomorrow and see if it helps. Thanks.

Another thing to consider is that the pivot point on the motor could be worn, another reason to check the motor end of it. I would check it through from driver's console back or motor to console either way you would like. It would make since to undo the cable mount at the motor and see what is going on at the motor pivot point. If it doesn't show any movement (if motor doesn't wobble on the mount) or if there is no sign of ware, then put some grease to it, it may even have a grease fitting.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

Your welcome, don't forget to give the wrest of it (pulleys etc) a good inspection. Let us know if this helps, if not we'll half to go further to try and fix the problem. Somebody might have a better solution here.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

check the cable on the drum, if not installed correctly they will cross, and become extremely hard to steer. also the tension on the cable needs to the firm but not overly tight. if the sheath on the cable is worn it will also cause problems.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=200994

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Cable/Pulley Steering Pin keeps breaking - too much resistance to turn

Also, keep in mind. You've got a 115hp outboard there - a lot more than those old pulley & drum steering systems were ever really meant to handle safely. If the trim tab on the motor is off by a bit it can add a great deal to the torque and make it very hard to turn....
- Scott