Expert: Jeff Grigg - 10/3/2006

Question
I put my 17ft. RiverOx center console, with a 50hp Yamaha, in the water today after a layoff of about a month, and I found that the teleflex steering had frozen tight.  I couldn't budge the wheel, and couldn't even turn the motor by hand from side to side.  I sprayed everything with CRC, including at the helm and back at the motor, no luck.  Where would be a logical place to start taking things apart, at the steering wheel or back at the motor end?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  THANKS.

Answer
John, 99.9% freeze at the motor.
Remove the drag link from the steering output shaft.
Remove the large nut from the steering cable on the tilt tube.
Pull the steering output shaft out of the tilt tube. With the nut off you may have to turn the steering wheel to keep the steering cable as short as possible. If you have a tight motor well area you may have to remove the motor from the boat!
Once out of the tilt tube clean the steering with carb cleaner on a rag or WD40. Regrease the steering, move the steering back and forth to lube all of the cable you can.
Clean out the tilt tube. A lot of rags and spray carb cleaner will do nicely. If you can run a brush in the tilt tube to clean stubborn rust and grease.
Lube the inside of the tilt tube and reassemble.
If the steering cable is frozen solid in the tilt tube you may have to use a hammer and a long punch to persuade it out. Be careful not to mushroom the end of the cable or you will be buying a new cable.
Let me know if you need additional help.
Jeff