Steering Cable Replacement

[cobra]

Last night I replaced my steering cable on my Custom Weld Cobra Jet Boat. Not a fun job, had to remove the seats and several of the floor boards to run the new cable. I bought the boat in 2002 so I am approaching four (4) years although my steering has been real stiff for about a year. Based upon my discussions with the manufacturer, if you run your boat in the salt at all, you will need to replace cable every two years as water gets in there a corrodes the cable. Seems like a real poor design to me. Cost of new cable is $150.00 plus about 3-4 hours of time with two people. Anybody else had this problem?

[TheDandyDuck]

Nope, It's coming up though! Thanks for the insight! :hoboy:

[KChookem]

I do not know your manufacturer or type of steering, but I'll relate my experiences for you, and others who may have an interest. BTW, I've contacted my manufacturer, Teleflex, and the info they told me is below.

I've a Teleflex mechanical steering cable on my boat (Arima with 90 hp Honda). This is the type of steering cable that runs from the helm and into a tube on the front of my outboard. Due to the way I sometimes operate the boat, it gets ALOT of saltwater on the steering cable.

I'm on my third cable in 9 years. I literally tore my second cable apart to see what the problem was, and found grease had worked its way over 8-feet up the cable. (As suggested by a reputable mechanic, I had installed a nut with a grease zerk - but this is apprently the wrong thing to do, as you'll soon see).

In January 2006, Jim at Teleflex's tech support wrote, "... do not use that Grease Zerk, that is what is making your steering stiff. As you pump grease in the Zerk it forces the old grease and gunk up your steering cable jacket causing what is known as a hydraulic lock."

Jim went on to write, "the maintance on a cable steering system is done back at the engine. You must undo the link arm at the end of the steering cable, then undo the nut at the end of the plastic jacket of the steering cable. Then pull the cable by the plastic jacket towards the side of your boat to expose the 5/8 telescoping rod which is the end of the steering cable, clean it off, and clean out the support tube and grease it with a WATER PROOF MARINE LITHIUM GREASE and reassemble."

Jim at Teleflex advised that boats used in salt water should do this maintance twice a year, otherwise once a year.

After cleaning mine thoroughly as Jim advised, it is noticeably better, although I think I've already done some previous "damage". BTW - there is a stainless steel shaft inside the SS shaft that you see turning the motor - both need to be cleaned.

I found the "support tube" (the tube on the front of the outboard that the steering cable runs through) had a good build up of rust inside. After sand paper on a stick was not removing it well, I took a big, long rat tail file and smoothed it out (the latter recommended by my boat mechanic is Salem).

Another thing I learned when I dismantled my 2nd of 3 cables, is that the actual stainless steel cable is so encased in LAYERS of slick, hard plastic, that salt water never touched the actual metal.

[ping jockey]

Have you tried WD-40? I have a teleflex mechanical cable too and it gets regularly drenched with salt water while bottom fishing. Everytime I get done fishing and every 3or4 weeks if it's just sitting I turn the motor to the stop where the cable is extended and spray it with WD-40 then run it back. Do this 3-4 times soaking it good with WD-40 each time then leave it with the cable extended and spray it again. Takes about 5 minutes. My cable is 12 years old and I have never had any problems.

[cobra]

Kchookem/ping jockey:

Thanks for the response. You are right the cable is manufactured by Teleflex. I have greased that zirk in past and I recall the streering stiffening up after I did it - and I used a marine lithium grease. After that, I tried to remove as much as I could and applied the WD-40 to the stainless steen shaft (i.e., end of the cable) that slides in and out behind the zirk fitting. I recall the grease was fine in the summer when it was 80 degrees but when it was cold it really got stiff. I am not going to grease mine and see what happens. I will continue to spray and wipe with the WD40.

With the new cable in now I can turn the wheel with one finger vs. grabbing with both hands a pulling hard one direction or another.

[KChookem]

cobra & ping jockey...

Disclaimer: I've been wrong on this twice before when following the advice of professionals. I hope my latest advice is not wrong too (the info I posted from Teleflex).

As I said, I'm on my third steering cable. After tearing the second one apart to see what the problem was (grease), I faithfully used Steering Lube oil made for this specific use, however, my steering still became stiff after three years. I also used WD-40 the past few months, and while that would help for a day or so, the stiffness returned. Jim at Teleflex said, in a telephone conversation, the oil will also cause the hydraulic lock, and not to do anything but clean and lube the telescoping rods twice a year.

It looks like WD40 works for "ping jockey". Perhaps it just my boat and the way I operate it (which sometimes causes frequently saltwater soakings of the shaft and motor well).

If you wish to contact Teleflex technical support, here is the email for Jim...<jcorday@teleflex.com>

[snit]

KChookem...great information!!!!!!!!!