View Full Version : whats going on with my steering?
HOOKUP
01-01-2007, 12:46 PM
I get to the boat ramp and my steering wheel is frozen. this boat hasnt seen water in 2 months. My buddy says the lube in it is frozen and prys it lose. I head down river and I have maybe 50% of my steering capability. Not the normal turn on a dime. At full speed i cant even control the boat until I back way off the throttle. Anyone ever had this problem in cold weather? My motor is a 175 sportjet. thanks
MattPark
01-01-2007, 12:52 PM
The steering lines freeze on those. If they are stored outside, it's worse.
HOOKUP
01-01-2007, 12:55 PM
my boat is stored outside...
The probelm seems more at the wheel than anywhere else...anyone?
fishkisser
01-01-2007, 01:51 PM
Sounds like you have air in your hydralic lines . Try and bleed the air out according to steering manufacturers specifications . Other than that prying loose your steering wheel may have damaged seals in the helm unit... Good Luck
HOOKUP
01-01-2007, 05:37 PM
I found out what the deal is Mercury has a .99 cent rubber sleave that is zip tied to cover the steering cable to keep water out. I was missing a zip tie and the cable was exposed. Now I have to find out if the whole cable needs to be replaced or just a fitting:redface:
fishkisser
01-02-2007, 08:01 AM
Oops sorry Hookup ... Thought you had a hydralic helm setup ... :redface:
Yep, little rubber boots on those if I remember (on my '99 at least). Mine had cracked and broke, and it would freeze up, but I'd let it sit for a minute in the water and they'd thaw. The new owner had new cables isntalled, and it's not an easy job if I remember.
You're probably going to need a new cable even if you free it. Once it starts going bad, it's only going to continue until the cable "freezes" completely. This "freezing" is probably due to corrosion, not temperature.
Keep in mind that a steering cable can freeze solid at anytime. Murphy's law says it will be while you are going 40 mph and a boat is in front of you. Then when you crank on the steering wheel, you strip out the steering gears and have more to replace.
If you have to replace the cable, you should go to hydraulic steering as soon as possible. The problem will be solved permanently.