Boat Steering and Trim Troubleshooting
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Boats that have outboard motors are normally steered in one of three different ways. Small boats are often controlled by a tiller handle on the motor. Midsize boats are often cable steering system and large boats usually employ a hydraulically assisted power steering system.
Midsize Boats with steering and trim problems are normally caused by two main reasons.
- Poorly greased outboard motor. Under the power head at the top of the leg, there are a few grease nipples that lubricate the shaft on which the motor pivots. These normally only get grease every year or so when the motor is serviced which is inadequate. So the first thing to do is add some grease. If you disconnect the steering rod and the motor is still hard to turn, this will most likely be the reason and a good dose of quality marine grease will fix it.
Steering cable not lubricated and salt incursion into cable causing cable to become tight and to stick. The main reason this happens is when the seal on the end of the tilt tube where the steering rod comes out has failed or not been fitted, or this joint has not been properly lubricated.
Below is a remedy for a sticking steering cable.
Materials:
1 – 2 litres of auto transmission fluid
1 x 50 – 60cm length of 1/5″ or 2″ plastic water pipe with end cap to suit plasticine
Duct tape.
A friend to help.
Steps as follows:
1. Disconnect steering rod from motor and remove steering cable from tilt tube.
2. Fit and seal the end cap to the 2″ plastic water pipe, and drill a hole in the centre of it the correct size so that you can feed the part of the steering cable that moves in and out through it and into the pipe.
The idea is that the cable can be fed into the tube to the point where the lock nut is, and you seal it off there. Seal up the gaps in the hole around the cable with plasticine and hold it in place with a thorough wrapping of duct tape.
The idea now is to fill up the pipe with auto transmission fluid, and then get your mate to wind the steering from lock to lock for at least 30 minutes while you keep the tube held still vertically. This “sucks” the auto trans fluid, which is really just very fine oil, into the steering cable and provides the needed lubricant.
The only downside is that its common for the oil to work its way right up to the steering box and you can get oil leaking from there – easily fixed with a strategically placed rag!
The other alternative is to replace the steering cable with a new one, or migrate to hydraulic steering.
Hi everyone!
I had much problems with steering of my Bayliner in harbours at low speeds,
so I attached a Ruddersafe to it..
I must say: the best thing I bought for my boat, ever!
It really really works!!!
No steering problems anymore at low speeds!!!
Just wanted you to know about this thing…
I found it at http://www.ruddersafe.com
It’s very cheap either…!!!
Greetings and have a nice day!
Brad Franetti
how do i get the shaft out if its stuck in the tube
o0donny0o, “how do i get the shaft out if its stuck in the tube” your best bet if you can’t heat it and free it is to replace the tilt tube. I had a similar issue on my little merc and it just wouldn’t budge. For the sake of a smidge over 100 bucks and about 1hr it’s just easier.
To remove the tube undo you steering cable and support the motor with rope or lift straps undo the two nuts (1 if the other wont budge) and tap the tilt tube out. Once its out you can try and heat the tube in a vice and tap the stainless steel steering rod to free it but chances are it is stuck solid already. You will need to cut the old tilt tube (carefully) and free your steering rod. Once done clean the rod with emery paper. Clean inside the motor section and then replace the tilt tube. Grease the tilt tube then put your steering back together. I would recommend putting a steersman nut on the unit as well because the grease nipple on the front of the motor is not for the steering it’s for the tilt tube (hard lesson learnt thats for sure).
hello i have a 2000 bayliner 1850 lx with a 4.3 alpha one merc I/O the boat and motor only has like 30 hours on it and is in great shape but i took it out the other day and the hole shot was kinda slow and the bow of the boat lifted up way to hight for my liking untill it planed out do i need to change the prop or add a whale fin to help this issue ? and also the boat vibrated when im using the trim button while im trying to adjust how the boat planes .I was wanting to use this boat for wake boarding but the way it sits now im not sure if its going to work with that hole shot
I only have steering problems at high speed. It is very tight when turning towards the port. Starboard is normal. At low speed all is normal.
I have a 73 cruiser 165 hp mercruiser, I took it out the other day and my steering decided not to work. It was very loose and I heard clicking as I was turning the wheel. The wheel did not turn the outboard while I was in the water, so I pulled the boat out moved the outboard and the wheel turned, then I turned the wheel and the it decided to work, then stopped working again can some one tell me if it is a bad cable or can I tighten something up or grease it to make it work all the time without spending $1000.00 on repairing it?
I have a 1982 mercury and the steering is totally locked on it. It’s not the cables because i took them off and it is still hard to turn it by hand. Can anyone give me some tips on how to get this thing free?