Steering froze Up

[V-Bottom]

The ole' 10 yr. old steering finally did it's thing. Locked up. I am looking for a website that may give me some type of diagram that shows a rotary system torn down, diagram showing all parts etc. I want to tear into it from the engine(OMC),and see if I can jar it loose, spray it w/ oil, let it sit...plus tear into whats under the dash!

Otherwise I'll have to buy all new goodies and let my mechanic at Dockside Marine fix it.

[Hop]

Ned With Nedski Foils showed me a neat gadget he made for this very problem. It's a tiny grease zirc that attaches to the cable shield. He pumps oil into the steering cable instead of just greasing the ends. If you've tried to turn it with it frozen i'd sugest getting a new cable. It doesn't take much to tweak the worm gear.
--Hop

[J Ipock]

Loosen the nut that holds the cable to the tilt tube on the motor (1 1/16"-1 1/8" maybe?) then goes turn your steering wheel and see if the wheel turns easier. If it does, the tilt tube on the motor needs to be cleaned. If it is still stiff, you need a cable. Don't waste your time trying to fix that cable, they are cheap and the safety of people on your boat depend on that cable every time you go out. I have never seen a helm freeze up, so I doubt it is a problem, usually when they go bad it starts stripping gears.

Good Luck,

Joey

[TheSamarai]

If it's ten years old and stuck, probably be better to replace that whole rotary system. pretty easy to do. there's probably 5 steps in the installation. Recommend you rent a steering wheel puller to get the steering wheel off. After that only a couple of bolts holds the system on.

[sqwaby]

The helm is not made to take apart, its held together with rivets, steering manufacturers will not supply parts for mechanical helms due to liability. At ten years of age I'd replace it with new. If your system is already frozen squirting oil into it won't fix it, you need to pull the cable, clean it, and the tilt tube and relube. You can get a combo kit with helm and cable, 20' and under is less than $200.

[RedXCross]

If you plan on keeping the boat and using it, REPLACE IT! My 2 cents .

[hi2utoo]

As stated by others you may be able to pull apart and clean and lubricate the steering rod/tube at the motor, I've done it a few times. Whether it's good or bad, at least in my case I never had anymore problems for years, but I quite using grease on the steering. I'd only use oil on the steering rod and pull the grease fittings every 3-4 trips and squirt oil in them, crank the steering back and forth. Also after use I'd always turn the motor to where the steering cable rod was exposed and shoot it with oil. I never every had anymore steering problems after I stated doing the above and the steering was always smooth from then on.

[V-Bottom]

Thanx fellows for the input. The boat stays..been a good WellCraft to me. Will get the cable replaced and the helm. Better to be safe than sorry.

[MarshJr.]

Are all steering cables the same design on the motor side of the cable? or are they brand/model sensitive?