Re: Steering
I'm assuming that you have a mechanical rotary or rack system. Sounds like the helm or cable is stripped. A common problem is the cable rusts up or the ram (part that is connected to the steering linkage on the outboard or i/o) is seized up. Then the helm (part behind the wheel) can get the gears stripped forcing it.
Most brand helms are not serviceable. They might come apart, but parts are not available.
On a boat that age, you might want to consider replacing both the helm and cable. The cable might have its length marked on it ever foot or two (again, depends on its age) or you just remove and measure it.
The wheel comes off the helm. Its held on a tapered keyed shaft by a nut in the center of the wheel. Usually loosening the nut until flush with the shaft and then striking with a hammer while pulling up on the wheel breaks it loose. Then remove nut and wheel, and remove nuts holding helm to dash. Unscrew large nut where cable attaches to helm, and turn shaft to drive cable out of helm. Disconnect cable at motor through tube by unscrewing the large nut on the cable attaching it to through tube, disconnect linkage from end of ram. Drive ram out of through tube. Often rusted in place. Often the motor must come off boat in order to get needed clearance to bend cable to install new cable in through tube. Depends on your boat design.
I found that it can be easier to remove the old cable by using a large bolt cutter and section it up and remove in small pieces. Then snake the new cable in its place. Some boat manufacturers use the steering cable to bundle wires to. So some tie wraps may need to be cut to separate the steering cable from electric wires.
If you do need to remove the motor, a good method is the one where the bow goes down, then block up the motor under the skeg, then jack up front of trailer until motor is standing on skeg. This works well because often all that is needed is to turn the motor a little to insert the new cable, then put right back on the boat. No lifting motor, no engine hoist rentals, etc. Just a couple of friends to help steady the motor while you insert the new cable.
The two big brands are Teleflex and Uflex.
Everything you need is here:
http://www.iboats.com/Complete_Boat...6238491--**********.441729170--view_id.246975
If the system is hydraulic, then check on fluid levels and purge.
This should get you started. Good luck!
