Help. Jammed Steering.

[krosemond]

Hey Guys.<br />'79 Johnson 150, cable steering.<br /><br />My brother took the boat to Morehead this weekend and had to be towed in. While trying to beach the boat in a NE wind (onshore at Shackleford), apparently the anchor didn't set and he tilted the engine while it was turned hard over to port as he was blown up on the beach. Maybe some heavy banging on the beach in the onshore chop and boat wakes. The steering totally jammed, and would not turn either away.<br /><br />When he got back, I disconnected the engine from the steering cable and the engine turns freely. Also, I disconnected the nut on the cable side of the steering cylinder (at the motor) and the helm began to move, backing the rod out as I turn the wheel over. But when I re-tighten that nut, the cylinder or the helm will not turn.<br /><br />It is my guess that tilting the engine up with the engine turned to port, as well as the banging on the beach, some how put something in a bind. <br /><br />What is my next step? I cannot seem to free it up. It is stuck in the most retracted position. I am stumped!<br /><br />Any advice will be much appreciated.<br /><br />Ken

 

[crazyray2]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

you have bent the rod that goes thru your engine. this may or may not be fixable without replacing the steering cable. I take this is a outboard....

 

[krosemond]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Crazy Ray,<br /><br />That is kind of what I figured. It is an Outboard, older '79 Johnson 150. What I don't really understand is: the cylinder that comes out from the housing that moves the engine is stuck, but when I remove the nut that holds it in place on the cable side of the engine, the the helm begins to move and a very rigid rod comes out away from the engine as I turn the helm. When I re-tighten that nut, it will not move again. I looked in my Clymer manual, and it does not address the steering cable at all. How do I disassemble the housing for the cable at the engine?

 

[round2it]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Had a similar situation, but was able to make it home. The only fix that worked for sure for me was a new cable. Fortunatley only one. Boat turns like a charm now. Unfortunatley cylinders blew a few weeks later. Wish that was as easy to fix.

 

[TONY H]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

It sounds like the stainless steel part that is bent is stuck in your motor tube. When you disconnect the bolt on the plastic cable side of your engine and turn the wheel, the stainless rod is still stuck but the sleeving is moving out and in. The question is can you pull the entire steering cable out from the engine tube? My guess is that it's stuck in the tube.

 

[krosemond]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Oh boy is it stuck!! I priced new cables at about 129 bux, so I after looking at it, I have a pretty good idea how to replace it, if I can just get it out of the tube!<br /><br />Thanks for your help, it helped me figure it out.

 

[krosemond]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Help. I need some ideas about how to get the steel rod out of the tube. I have done some research, and it seems that in functional teleflex cable, you would just disconnect the bolt on the plastic cable side of the engine and the stainless rod would just slide out. It must be very bent, because I can barely get it to move with some very aggressive whacks with a hammer. There is still about 2" of the rod sticking out. Pretty soon, the tag end will be inside the tube. Other than getting another medal rod and inserting it in the tube and just keep pounding until it comes out, what could I do?<br />There has got to be a trick I haven't figured out yet. <br /><br />Please, any ideas.....

 

[JB]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Ahoy, Krose. I have not had that exact problem, but a neighbor did. We finally solved it by removing the cable through the tube. It is only the shaft that is bent, and the cable is scrap after you get it out, anyway.<br /><br />If you haven't driven it too far into the tube to recover, pull it out, and the cable (disconnected from the helm) with it. Messy, but effective.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[krosemond]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Thanks JB,<br /><br />Problem is, it will not move in either direction. Istill have about an inch protuding. I can't come up with an effective method of exerting a good deal of pulling force. But I am like pooh bear...think, think, think.<br /><br />The funny thing is, my brother just can't think of any event that caused this. Hmmmn. Kinda like the 7th kid in the house who causes all the trouble, "not me". Could have been the lower unit banging on the beach!!<br /><br />I am really not ready to call it a season before the fall kingfish run, so I gotta come up with something. After all these years, wouldn't it be a sad end to a noble engine to have to repower because of the steering.

 

[crazyray2]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

think I would try and work rod back out of engine tilt tube instead of driving it back thru....should be much easier....as a last resort I would take a die grinder and cut cable just behind the plastic nut you have then take a small brass drift or such and should be able to gently tap it back thru......if you having as much trouble as you seem to be moving it to left side of engine would never get it all the way thru tube. Also might could put rod thru hole in end of cable and strike rod to remove......most important is take your time and don't do more damage than you already have encountered. Happy Fishing

 

[JB]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Hi, Krose. Does the inch that is protruding from the tube have the hole through it for the engine steering rod? You may be able to attach an inertia puller to that and tap it out that way.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[krosemond]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

JB, yes, it does have the hole that the tiller arm is bolted to. What is an inertia puller?<br /><br />Ray, you are correct, the last thing I need to do is damage the tube, that would in effect kill this engine, cause any substantial amount of $$$ needs to go to a repower. I don't mind buying the cable and helm, that won't come with the new motor anyway. <br /><br />I thought of this this morning: When I disconnect the bolt on the cable side of the tube and turn the helm, about 14" of the SS rod backs out. Could I hack that off and try to tap it through?

 

[JB]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Hi, Krose. An inertia puller is a tool often used by body and fender men to pull out dents in panels that they can't access the back of. The main parts are a shaft and sliding weight. The end of the shaft is attached to the part to be pulled and the weight is slid up the shaft against a stop, producing a pull-hammer effect. <br /><br />Maybe you can borrow one or simulate one with stuff on hand and pull-hammer the shaft out of the tube.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[TONY H]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

I think you may have to spring for the big bucks. If you commit to that then I would cut the cable right at the nut. and push it through the tube PUSHING from the flexible end toward the 1" remaining side. HOPEFULLY it is bent about two to three inches in and after you smack it out that far it will become free.<br />trying to get it through the tube in the other direction, you may have to fight it through for 9" of tube.<br />Don't get too scared smacking that rod through the tube. I've had some seriously frozen rods after a long winters knap and I beat the crap out of it with no damage to the tube.<br />As it was stated before me, One of those 'dent pullers' or even a front wheel drive bearing puller would be great if you have the room to get it in there. otherwise smack the rod out with another shaft of some sort.<br />Good luck

 

[crazyray2]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

haven't done it but seems that a old brake wheel cyl hone would be just the ticket for slicking up the tube after you get the old rod out.....the slide hammer idea sounds the best....hope you are on the water soon

 

[krosemond]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

JB, I know what you are talking about, just didn't know the name. Ray just called it a slide hammer, and I would have recognized that. Did you say you were a retired technical writer?<br /><br />Good idea, thanks.<br /><br />Tony, Ray, thanks for the tips. I think I have a plan. I will let you guys know what I break over the weekend. <br />

 

[SCO]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

I've had mine lock up due to dried out grease. Its amazing how much resistance it can provide because of the amount of surface area between rod and tube. Imagine gluing it in there. The next suggestion will help you in any case. Use the zerts(inspect and you should find them) to grease up the tube...use wd 40 anything to get lubrication between tube and rod. If you havn't lubricating using the zerts, it's a likely cause. Give it a shot if u havn't already.

 

[Paddling]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Hello Krosemond,<br />In reading this thread I can't see where you say for sure that the stainless rod is what is bent. Are you sure it's not the steering support tube that is bent? In my experience the stainless rod at the end of the cable is pretty substantial but the support tube is just an aluminum tube. I've even had to replace a tube with holes corroded through them. I don't think I'd cut the cable unless I knew for sure that the rod was bent.<br />One year my steering froze up from corrosion. I took the entire cable and tube assembly off the boat and hammered the cable through the tube in a vise. Replaced the tube and polished the cable rod and put it back in service. The steering tube is usually attached to the boat with a ball and socket type block clamp, but other types exist. You should be able to disconnect the cable at the motor, disconnect the cable gland nut at the helm and disconnect the support tube from the boat and take the whole assembly off to work on it. West Marine has decent pictures of the steering components on their web site that may help. As long as your not beating on the motor a bigger hammer may help you get the rod back through the support tube.

 

[JB]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

Hmmm. A senior moment, I suppose. I KNEW there was a common name for that thing. I just couldn't think of it.<br /><br />Good luck.<br />JB

 

[jstooks1]

Re: Help. Jammed Steering.

hey krosemond,<br /><br />I had the same problem yesterday as you and today I came home and figured it out. If yours is like my 140 evinrude there is a steel shaft inside another larger shaft; inside the motor bracket. The smaller steel shaft is threaded into the platic tube. Loosen the nut on the engine and leave the nut on your steering column ON. turn the wheel until the tube come out about 3 inches.<br />Then clamp onto the smaller tube ( careful not to nick it too bad) and twist the other side as you were loosening a nut (should be about a half an inch of thread) When you think you have twisted enough try turning the steering wheel the other way and it should pull the plastic tube from the shaft.<br />Then you will have to pull the shaft and cable, which will be attached, through the opposite side. Check it over and look for damage. Hopefully as in the case with mine , I just clean it out. Needless to say there was a lot of build up and mud and all kinds of crud. And I was was able to put it back in reverse order and it works GREAT! <br /><br />If you need any more info or get stuck feel free to email me (jstooks1@hotmail.com)<br /><br />I know how you feel