Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

[kaempfe]

Hello.

I used to live on the East Coast and ran my boat every summer since I got it 5 years ago until two summers ago when I moved. I have not had much time to devote to the boat until now. I got this boat 5 years ago and have been slowly learning about how to fix things (gas guage, pinot tube, steering wheel, winterize, etc) but this is new.

I know I have always been able to shift the outboard from left to right from outside of the boat at the motor and have done so up to a few months ago. When I recently started to go through the boat to get it ready to take out, I realized the motor seems to be frozen to the right. I have tried to apply some force to it without breaking anything and I have tried to see if something with the steering wheel/cable is preventing it from moving. I don't see anything obvious except that the rod that the motor rides on (I think I have seen some call it a tilt tube) seems like it has not been well greased where it interfaces with the motor.

Any ideas on how to get this moving again? Any tricks for breaking it free? How do I prevent this from happening again? Thanks
Scott

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

First separate the steering from the engine (easiest at the engine) and determine which is frozen. The engine usually has a grease zerk on the mid section housing where the midsection attaches to the mount.....where the vertical round tube is located that the engine rotates back and forth on.

Then go to the steering, separating the cable from the wheel and you will find what is frozen. If you can't lube it, gotta replace it. Teleflex does steering and does a super job. I think they sell parts on here.

Mark

 

[cbelk]

Re: Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

On the right side of your motor where the steering cable enters the tube you will see two nuts remove the large nut on the outside that holds the steering rod in the tube. also remove the nut attatching the steering rod to the steering arm on the left side, providing the rod is not frozen you should be able to pull the rod out to clean and grease it from the right side. dried grease is probably the reason that it wont move. if the rod is frozen you will have to get it out (I had to tap mine out ) I have told over and over that tapping it out is the wrong thing to do but it worked for me. make sure you use a ton of wd40 first to try and loosen it up deoending on how frozen it is this may not help very much but its worth a try. Mine was stuck firm and i had to be very agressive getting it out and my cable had allready broke so replacing it was the only option.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

Disconnect the steering arm fro the motor itself the try to work the steering wheel If it is good then the problem is in the motor Pivot. Grease as stated gets very hard after a long time of sitting. If it turns out to be the pivot and not the steering itself message me for assistance.

 

[kaempfe]

Re: Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

Thanks for the all of the input...I will try these suggestions this weekend and get back with you.

Any input on what to do when I put it all back together as far as grease, etc? What should I do for preventative maintenance?

Thanks
Scott

 

[kaempfe]

Re: Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

I removed the large nut that holds the steering rod in the tube and disconnected the pivot arm. The motor can pivot freely but the rod is frozen in the tube. I am assuming there are no issues from the rod to the steering wheel but the motor was locked to the right so the steering cable rod is in the tube. I have soaked it with WD40 and I hope to break it loose.

Any ideas on how to get this fixed? Do I need to lift the motor out? I need some detailed advice and maybe some photos as I have not done too much engine work on this boat and really don't have the tools or the space to lift the motor.

Is there some what to eliminate an issue with teh cable to the steering wheel being locked up? I have never seen this system taken apart so I can visualize that the steering cable is in teh tube. I cant see it

 

[kaempfe]

Re: Steering frozen on 80 HP Merc 1988 (Newbie)

Hi, everyone.

Thanks for all of the advice. I continued to soak the rod in WD40 and push and turn it until it broke free. I have sprayed WD40 in there and keep moving it around every day to clean out the junk. I still think I should pull the entire cable but it is not in the cards for today. Thanks for the help!!!