Frozen steering

[Queal1911]

I have an older Evinrude engine the steering is frozen at the bar in the back in the steering cable that sits by the engine. I have tried to lube it and push it out but it wont budge. Can someone help me.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Frozen steering

Remove the bolt that attaches the link to the engine and determine which is frozen, the rod or the engine. All you can do is to start tapping the end of the rod with a hammer and be liberal with the PBlaster or other penetrant. Eventually the rod will start moving. Once you get her moving, keep working it and spraying it until you can get it all the way out of the tube. (You may not have room to get it all the way out- some boats require engine removal to gain the clearance to get the rod out.) But you'll be able to get to the rod and the inside of the tube. Both will be nasty. If the steering system is toast replace it. The tilt tube will need to be cleaned out with a round wire brush and more spray. Do it until it is clean. Then lube the inside and reinstall/replace the cable.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Frozen steering

Remove the bolt that attaches the link to the engine and determine which is frozen, the rod or the engine. All you can do is to start tapping the end of the rod with a hammer (AND USE A BRASS DRIFT SO YOU DO NOT DAMAGE ANYTHING) and be liberal with the PBlaster or other penetrant. Eventually the rod will start moving. Once you get her moving, keep working it and spraying it until you can get it all the way out of the tube. (You may not have room to get it all the way out- some boats require engine removal to gain the clearance to get the rod out.) But you'll be able to get to the rod and the inside of the tube. Both will be nasty. If the steering system is toast replace it. The tilt tube will need to be cleaned out with a round wire brush and more spray. Do it until it is clean. Then lube the inside and reinstall/replace the cable.

A 12 gauge cleaning brush works great mounted to a rod and use a drill to spin it. No lie....you have work ahead of you and since you have that much corrosion then I would almost suspect the steering cable may be rusted too then it needs replacement.

Welcome to iboats!

 

[southkogs]

Re: Frozen steering

A replacement cable can be gotten for less than $150. Might just be a good opportunity to getcha' a new one.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Frozen steering

A replacement cable can be gotten for less than $150. Might just be a good opportunity to getcha' a new one.

An entire new system including a wheel can be had for less than $120

 

[ufm82]

Re: Frozen steering

Good point Bob. I have a brass wire brush that fits perfectly in the tube with enough pressure to clean out the garbage. I use the drill deal as well and keep the brush wet with the spray. It makes a BIG mess but it does the job very well. I didn't know the actual diameter- 12 gauge huh? And I should have said a no-mar hammer but your brass drift comment was dead on. Good info.

Queal- take that to heart. If you smack the rod too hard and mushroom it or bend the rod it can very very hard to remove from the tube. You don't have to kill it- just keep tapping until it starts moving. Once you get some motion it will start to get easier pretty quickly

 

[Queal1911]

Re: Frozen steering

The arm on the end of the cable is frozen already tried to remove it it won't budge.

 

[43dadron]

Re: Frozen steering

I have an older Evinrude engine the steering is frozen at the bar in the back in the steering cable that sits by the engine. I have tried to lube it and push it out but it wont budge. Can someone help me.

I just removed (today) a steering cable from an old 48 HP Evinrude with the intent of replacing the steering cable and steering mechanism. So I just took a small sledge and pounded the cable out of the tilt tube. I used an old 3/8 extension to pound it out of the tube. This 3//8 extension is good for nothing now but doing the same thing. After doing this I found the cable gunked up and the tilt tube was rusted. I used a stainless round wire brush on a drill and cleaned out the rust in the tilt tube, and I cleaned the cable thoroughly and found the cable to be working fine. I used marine grease and reinserted into the cleaned rusty tilt tube, which by the way needs to be replaced, the cable is a slight loose fit now, but the steering works fine now and will probably for a few more years maybe, I hope.

 

[rebars1]

Re: Frozen steering

Disconnect the engine arm from the end of the steering cable and the engine should pivot freely. If you disconnect the nut on the side of the tube that the cable enters and if the end of the cable is frozen inside of the tube, you should still be able to turn the steering wheel unless the cable itself is shot. You will still need to tap it out as other have said. (I frankly had to beat the crap out of mine to get it to move! Then I did the same thing that 43daron did.) I think what happens is that the old grease inside the tube hardens and acts like a glue. Good luck and let us know how it went.

 

[pevaguy]

Re: Frozen steering

I had the steering freeze up on an old Mercruiser, I disconnected it at the rear of the rear of the boat and heated the outer housing of the cable where the cable entered the outer sleeve with a propane torch. Kept working the steering wheel gently back and forth till it freed up.

 

[Queal1911]

Re: Frozen steering

My problem is that i have pulled the entire tube out and the tube is still on the steering rod the rod works fine the tube is froze to it. Now that i have pulled the whole housing out the wheel turns fine. I need to know of something to use to free that arm from the steering cable.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Frozen steering

I need to know of something to use to free that arm from the steering cable.

Probably $120 to get a new cable would be best.