Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

[ajgraz]

Before remounting my 1979 Merc 70, I'm recalling that the steering cable ram had a tendency to stick in the steering tube if left unattended for a month or more, and that greasy, mucky crud would come out the open (port) end and stain my splashwell.

I've cleaned out and rehoned the steering tube with a dremel extension and flapwheel, and there are no dents in the tube or issues with the steering cable or ram that I can see. I think my problems basically stem from water getting into the open (port) end of the steering tube, and either washing out or hardening up the lube.

I've already established that my steering tube has 7/8"-14 threads, and there are a good 8 or 10 threads showing on each side (outside the locknuts). I see there are products out there that are supposed to thread onto the tube end and fix these issues:

Teleflex "cable guard" SA39329 (plastic?, about $12, available on iboats):
http://www.teleflexmarine.com/marketing-material/cable-guard-instruction-manual/

Seachoice "steering guard" 28251 (stainless, about $27, also on iboats):
http://www.seachoice.com/productdetail/ProdDetail-28024.asp

Steersman (can be gotten in aluminum for ~$20 or stainless for ~$30, av. on mfgr website):
http://www.steersman.com/index.html

Has anyone used any of these products? Did they fix these issues for you?

Not getting aluminum because I'm in salt, but is there any reason to spring for stainless over plastic? Any difference between the "Steersman" and the "Seachoice" ones?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

I have not used any of those products. However, I have used the product at the link below and think it works well. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

http://www.iboats.com/Steering-Cable-Boot/dm/*******.528723521--**********.098007427--view_id.39716

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

I have not used any of those products. However, I have used the product at the link below and think it works well. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

http://www.iboats.com/Steering-Cable-Boot/dm/*******.528723521--**********.098007427--view_id.39716

Hmm, so you put that over the ram that extends out the port side of the steering tube then? Did it interfere with the tiller arm at all?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

Hmm, so you put that over the ram that extends out the port side of the steering tube then? Did it interfere with the tiller arm at all?

Yes and it does a great job keeping water out of the tilt tube which allows the grease to work.

Sorry but I don't understand your question about "interfere with the tiller arm". Could you post a picture?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

Willyclay,

By "tiller arm" I mean the link arm between the steering ram and the outboard. Do the pleats in that cable boot touch the link arm? I guess a more precise question would be, what is the overall outside diameter of the pleats on that boot?

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As to my original question about the nut-based steering cable guard products; there must be tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of OB owners on here, doesn't anyone use one of these things?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

Just measured my spare boot and the OD of the pleats is 1.5 inches. I am not aware of any interference issues with the steering link on my installation or with any of my boating friends to whom I have given one of these protective boots. The only isssue I am aware of when using it is the tilt tube nut must be removed in order to fit the boot over the exposed end of the tilt tube. That would make the use of the grease-zerk nuts you are considering impossible in combination with the boot. Good luck!

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

Thanks for the measurement on the boot Willy. I am not considering this in combo with one of the other steering guard items, but as an alternative option--and an attractive alternative at about $5 versus as much as $30. In my case I'm not sure I'd need to remove the locknut on the end of the steering tube, I've got at least 3/4" of exposed steering tube thread beyond the locknut now.

So two final questions on the boot:
1) The linked listing says that one end is 1" ID (I assume this is the end for the steering tube) and the other is 3/8" ID. Will the 3/8" ID end stretch over a 5/8" diameter steering ram without splitting the boot?
2) Listing says the boot is 8" long; what is the total length of the boot when it is fully "retracted" or "squashed"?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Steersman or steering cable guard products; testimonials?

In my case I'm not sure I'd need to remove the locknut on the end of the steering tube, I've got at least 3/4" of exposed steering tube thread beyond the locknut now.

The locknut MUST remain to secure the tilt tube! I was referring to any nut on the end of the tilt tube with an O-ring for keeping out water. The large end of the boot will not fit over those. I have one bud with a 1990 Evinrude 60HP and his port side tilt tube locknut is so close to the end that he could not install the boot over the end of the tilt tube. You should be fine with 3/4 inch exposed.

Q1. Yes, the small end will fit over the industry standard telescopic rams without spliting and functions like a big O-ring.

Q2. The small end slips on the ram by design until it reaches the steering link bolt. The actual retracted dimension seems to vary by engine depending on which hole in the motor's tiller arm has the steering link installed since some motors have multiple holes. I'll try to get you a dimension.