Need help with Rotary Steering Cable!

[Nicyutrick]

Hello everyone back again with another question! Steering in Alpha One Mercruiser Sterndrive was tough to turn at the steering wheel with everything hooked up. Took our steering able completely. Slide the cable inside the jacket back and forth it moves super easy. The steering wheel with nothing connected to it moves super easy. What could be the problem? Does the Sterndrive need grease somewhere? Does a part need to be replaced?

 

[dubs283]

9 (or more if possible) times out of 10 the cause of stiff steering is the cable. Often times the tight bends at the helm/hull and in the corner of the hull/transom as the cable routes to the transom assy causes wear/chafing in the sheathing. Material from the sheathing builds up and causes binding. With the cable out and relieved of stress from the bends it will seem okay

As long as the helm rotates easily and the steering shaft in the transom assy moves freely the culprit most likely is the cable

Rotary steering is more commonly found on outboard setups but some sterndrives utilize rotary steering due to space limitations at the helm and on more economically marketed boats.

If you have the space under the helm for a rack and pinion helm/steering cable it will perform better than a rotary system

 

[Nicyutrick]

Let me add some more photos of the parts. I read as long as the bends have an 8” radius it should be fine. Also seen videos of cables that are frozen inside jacket. This steering cable is from 94 but is in good condition so maybe I should still change. Another question is the two tubes going to the steering component, is that filled with oil? Could oil not be in there? Here is the photos:

 

[Nicyutrick]

9 (or more if possible) times out of 10 the cause of stiff steering is the cable. Often times the tight bends at the helm/hull and in the corner of the hull/transom as the cable routes to the transom assy causes wear/chafing in the sheathing. Material from the sheathing builds up and causes binding. With the cable out and relieved of stress from the bends it will seem okay

As long as the helm rotates easily and the steering shaft in the transom assy moves freely the culprit most likely is the cable

Rotary steering is more commonly found on outboard setups but some sterndrives utilize rotary steering due to space limitations at the helm and on more economically marketed boats.

If you have the space under the helm for a rack and pinion helm/steering cable it will perform better than a rotary system

How do I see if the steering shaft in the transom assembly moves? Manual by hand reaching in there? Also when I try to grab the drive from the outside and move it left and right as the steering wheel would turn it, I can not turn it at all.

 

[dubs283]

This steering cable is from 94 but is in good condition so maybe I should still change. Another question is the two tubes going to the steering component, is that filled with oil? Could oil not be in there?

30 year old steering cable is definitely #1 suspect of stiff steering regardless of radius of bends.

The component pictured with the hoses attached is the power steering actuator. Fluid quality/level is inspected at the pump located at the front of the engine. Unless the system is low on fluid, poor quality fluid, leaking or making a very loud whining noise there's no reason to suspect the power steering system of failure

With the cable in place plus the power steering it will be difficult to move the steering by hand at the drive. With the cable out and steering actuator pin removed from the tiller arm you should be able to move the drive side to side by hand with ease

Mercruiser power steering actuators rarely fail. I can count on one hand the number of actuators I've replaced and they were due to leaking not poor performance

 

[Scott Danforth]

the cable wears thru the inner sheath at the bends and that is usually the cause of the stiff steering. only solution is to replace the cable

you did the hard work by pulling the old cable. at this point, buy a new cable and helm and go boating.

 

[Nicyutrick]

30 year old steering cable is definitely #1 suspect of stiff steering regardless of radius of bends.

The component pictured with the hoses attached is the power steering actuator. Fluid quality/level is inspected at the pump located at the front of the engine. Unless the system is low on fluid, poor quality fluid, leaking or making a very loud whining noise there's no reason to suspect the power steering system of failure

With the cable in place plus the power steering it will be difficult to move the steering by hand at the drive. With the cable out and steering actuator pin removed from the tiller arm you should be able to move the drive side to side by hand with ease

Mercruiser power steering actuators rarely fail. I can count on one hand the number of actuators I've replaced and they were due to leaking not poor performance

Sorry I am new to boats is the actuator pin and tiller arm right here? Have the cable disconnect and can not move from outside the boat but also the drive is up

 

[dubs283]

The tiller arm is in the upper right area of the pic. The black arm.with the continuity strap attached to the inner transom plate.

Remove the pin that attaches it to the PS actuator. This will allow you to swing the drive side to side easily

 

[Nicyutrick]

The tiller arm is in the upper right area of the pic. The black arm.with the continuity strap attached to the inner transom plate.

Remove the pin that attaches it to the PS actuator. This will allow you to swing the drive side to side easily

Damn okay the steering pin was already a pain in the ass to remove I’ll try that one and see how it moves.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you removed the cable and its free, then look elseware. Remove the SS pin in the steering arm. Try to straighten the cotter pin first, if not grab the eye of the pin with dikes and pull it out, then remove the pin.
The drive should move side to side . meaning the PS actuator is seized.
If the drive does not move then suspect siezed U joints from water intrusion

 

[Nicyutrick]

If you removed the cable and its free, then look elseware. Remove the SS pin in the steering arm. Try to straighten the cotter pin first, if not grab the eye of the pin with dikes and pull it out, then remove the pin.
The drive should move side to side . meaning the PS actuator is seized.
If the drive does not move then suspect siezed U joints from water intrusion

Will it move with the boat turned off, steering arm connected, and steering cable out?

 

[dubs283]

Will it move with the boat turned off, steering arm connected, and steering cable out?

You might be able to push the drive in one direction with difficulty with the actuator/tiller arm pin in place. Often times you will not be able to move either direction.

Remove the pin and test. It's the only way to know for sure. Otherwise it's speculation and that gets expensive quickly.

FYI, the steering cable is the cheapest/easiest component of the steering system to replace. With the cable out the boat you've done half the work already

 

[Nicyutrick]

Alright guys brand new steering cable in. Still seems tough to turn compared to videos where people are using one finger to turn. Here’s a video of the function and noise. Greased It around tiller arm, pins, put power steering fluid in as well. Next going to grease grimble nipples outside but I don’t think that’s the problem. Turns for cable aren’t too sharp. Any advice?

 

[Nicyutrick]

Alright guys brand new steering cable in. Still seems tough to turn compared to videos where people are using one finger to turn. Here’s a video of the function and noise. Greased It around tiller arm, pins, put power steering fluid in as well. Next going to grease grimble nipples outside but I don’t think that’s the problem. Turns for cable aren’t too sharp. Any advice?

Fix: Boat needed to be turned on to get pump power steering running. Also replaced cable and lubed the hell out of tiller arm joints and steering is much better!