Steering locked up

[Jezorek]

I have a 1990 155 HP Evenrude Comercial engine used in salt water. I haven't used it for about two months. I brought it home today for the season and found that I can not pivot the engine. It would appear that pivot bearings are free so either the cable is binding or it is siezed on the shaft that the cable drives.
The boat is kept on a trailer and washed down after each use.

Looking for suggestions on how to proceed.
Thanks.

 

[boobie]

Re: Steering locked up

Disconnect the steering link from the mtr to the cable and see which one frees up and go from there.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Steering locked up

You may be able to remove the steering cable end from the engine. (unscrew the large nut that holds the cablet into the engine transom brackets.) If the cable is still not moving in the casing, you will probably have to replace the cable. Those steering cables are not made to be lubricated and can slowly deteriorate over the years. Not unusual for the inner cable to fray and then catch on the outer casing, rendering the cable useless.

 

[Jezorek]

Re: Steering locked up

I removed the linkage from the end of the cable and unscrewed the nut that holds the cable into the tilt tube. Turning the steering wheel backs off the cable sheath. My assumption is that the cable is siezed inside the tilt tube assembly. Any idea how to free up the cable from inside the tube?

 

[Will Bark]

Re: Steering locked up

If you have enough room on your transom; try drive the cable ram out of the tilt tube with a metal rod, then you can clean the crud out of the tilt tube which is probley gummed up with dried up grease. a 50/50 mix of acetone and auto transmission fluid make a good cleaning agent to get the crud out. Good luck.