Outboard Steering Difficulty

[Denny Crane]

I have a 1986 Evinrude 175 outboard that has some resistance when steering and even gets stuck when turned completely one way. I have greased the fittings on the transom and have topped off the hydraulic fluid at the steering wheel. Does anyone have any experience with the steering cylinder and whether they've needed to replace this for the same reason? Thanks!

[upthesaukee]

The cable may need to be replaced. My first boat had 1996 Evinrude outboard, and even with lubrication, the steering was still stiff and the only remedy, even after lubing, was to replace the cable. Cable replaced, steering now normal, inept captain of his ship very happy.:laugh:

[Just Sold]

The cable may need to be replaced. My first boat had 1996 Evinrude outboard, and even with lubrication, the steering was still stiff and the only remedy, even after lubing, was to replace the cable. Cable replaced, steering now normal, inept captain of his ship very happy.:laugh:


Same thing happend to my 1993 90hp Evinrude on a 1993 Sunbird that I bought new and I believe you had a Sunbird too.

[Dave R]

Guys, there's no cable with hydraulic steering, it uses hoses and oil to transfer the wheel inputs to the ram on the motor...

http://img.nauticexpo.com/images_ne/photo-g/hydraulic-motor-boat-steering-system-25655-450331.jpg

I'd look into something binding at the engine. Disconnect the ram at the engine and see if the steering feels still feels stiff at the wheel. At the same time, see if the motor moves back and forth with ease.

[Kamper]

Check the pivot points where the motor's weight rests. There may be contamination or wear that are contributing to your issue.

Just a guess...

Good luck!

[LIforrelaxin]

I think Dave R sums it up best.... regardless of weather it is hydraulic or cable steering... Disconnect the engine... it should move pretty freely... if it does then check the steering with out the engine attached... and your problem is probably there....

If engine doesn't move freely, then your problem is there, and you have to spend some time figure out what needs to be lubed.....

my experience came with a tower of power,... the engine moved just fine... the cable steering was the problem, we where able to rehab the cable, buy extending it all the way out, greasing it, and retracting it back in repeatedly, eventually the grease worked it way around and up the length of the cable, and we got several more season out of the cable.... the boat at this point was about 10 years old. At about 25 years of service things bound up again... once again we isolated it to the steering cable, and this time decided it was just time to replace the cable....

[CateP]

We had really stiff steering with a 1985 70 hp Johnson and ended up having the steering cable replaced for about $400. Now it turns like butter.

[chipj29]

We had really stiff steering with a 1985 70 hp Johnson and ended up having the steering cable replaced for about $400. Now it turns like butter.
I think you mean it "Churns" like butter :D

[LIforrelaxin]

We had really stiff steering with a 1985 70 hp Johnson and ended up having the steering cable replaced for about $400. Now it turns like butter.

Cate,

To keep things working like not I recommend adding something like this:

http://www.basspro.com/Cable-Buddy-Steering-Cable-Lubrication-Systems/product/17932/

or

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/product.do?part=58387&engine=adwords!6456&keyword=product_ad&type=pla

They will help keep the steering system turning like butter, for years to come... I installed one on my last outboard, and it helped.... especially where an outbaord is more exposed to the elements.