Anyone's steering get tight after storage?

CHiLi DaWg

Last season, when I got my boat out of storage, the steering was tight. My dealer noticed it and they greased the rudder for me. Anyhow, about mid-summer it started getting tight again, so I greased it again.

Is greasing the rudder something many of you do on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, or do I have a problem brewing? I wonder if there could be something else. Maybe in the steering cable or wheel itself.

I did use the wrong grease last time and didn't realize it until later. I have the right stuff now and will grease it at the start of season. My boat is a 02 Moomba Outback LSV.

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 15, 2006 11:37 am Post subject:

Ive never heard of that...weve had our malibu since the end of june and winterized in november. Steering as sharp as ever.

Lcky275 · Posted: Jan 15, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject: steering cable

More than likely it's the steering cable. Water gets up in the sheath and causes it to bind. I had to replace it on my '03 lsv.

Unhook it from the rudder and tie a rope to it. That way you can pull the new cable back thru. It's about a 45 min to hour job. That cable runs about $150ish.

CHiLi DaWg · Posted: Jan 15, 2006 7:35 pm Post subject:

Lcky275, I never looked at how it is connected, is it fairly easy?

jflock2 · Outlaw Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 234 City: Atlanta

Same thing happened to my '02 SSV last year. The steering cable is enclosed in a sheath and moisture will cause it to lock up over time. The dealer replaced mine for $300.

djiali · Outlaw Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 176 City: Alexandria

just a thought before you go spending money...there's a little greese nipple (hahhaa - that word never gets old) on the outside housing of my rudder assembly. After I replaced my rudder last year, it was pretty hard to turn until I lubbed it up. It's a quick $10 fix. If you're a DYI'er, the stearing assembly is pretty simple to inspect yourself.

jonsmith2340 · Soul Rider Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 370

I'm not sure where the steering cable runs for everyone's boat, if you can get to it, in the fall when you winterize the boat spray both exposed ends with a cheap water displacing lubricant (something like WD-40) and this will help to slow corrosion inside the cable. If you really want to go all out you can remove the cable and with one end elevated spray it full and let it run down the cable. We used to have to do this for snowmobile cables and I have used it to get a couple of more years of life out of a boat steering cable.

goinbig143 · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 659 City: Wonder lake

I would replace it. If there is any corrosion, It will wind up stiffening up again.

CHiLi DaWg · Posted: Jan 17, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info guys Smile

Lcky275 · Posted: Jan 17, 2006 6:19 pm Post subject:

it's connected with at nut and bolt to the rudder. Not the easiest to get to, but you can. I think it's connected to the steering column via 4 bolts. The big metal bar under the steering wheel stays connected to the cable (that is what disconnects from the steering column. You'll need to pull from the drivers seat to get it out. Make sure you tie a rope to it, so you can tie on to the new one and pull it back thru.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Just a comment on inboard boats, my malibu specifically....Would it have been THAT hard or expensive to put in a god damned PVC conduit for the steering cable? Dang it, it took me hours to work that thing through, even with string tied in. And it's a poor design in the d-drive malibus to have the steering cable laying on the bottom of the bilge.

CHiLi DaWg · Posted: Jan 18, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

cameraboy, Laughing

Yeah, sometimes you have to wonder about engineers. I work in a machine shop, and some of the engineers don't like to be confronted with common sense.

CHiLi DaWg · Posted: Mar 19, 2007 5:18 pm Post subject:

Hey guys! I limped thru last summer with that tight steering problem.
Anyhow, I got the cable replaced, and what a difference! Turn it with my
finger now.

Can't wait for season to start!

zeus10 · Newbie Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 34 City: Florence

WHat is the correct grease to use? The whie lithium spray grease?

CHiLi DaWg · Posted: Mar 23, 2007 7:17 am Post subject:

There is a marine grade grease from different companies.
I got Penzoil at walmart.

finman · Outlaw Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 106 City: Tulsa

I replaced my cable in my 2002 Supra SSV this winter and what a world of difference. The hardest part for me was unbolting it under the motor at the rear of the engine.

http://www.marineengine.com/products/accessory.php?in=3464836

Finman