Stiff steering. PLEASE HELP

[Av8tor07]

Hello. I just took my boat about for the first time this season and found the steering very stiff. I need two hands to just maintain a straight line. I have the cobra jet steering fins, I actually was trying a different setting on them, I was trying the setting that pulls the fins up on plane, but yes realized that down all the time is the way to go. I know that the fins have nothing to do with it, just wanted to throw that out there. I knew that the steering was going to be stiff when I made the fin change, I could barely turn the nozzles from the back, had to use two hands, I sprayed the steering arms with a lubricant then, but I guess that it didn’t really help. Any ideas? Thank you.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

Lots of posts on here about steering cables going bad in the off-season if water gets inside of them. It’s not the cobra fins, I have them too. Someone else will chime in soon. You can use the search function to look up the DIY lubricating setup some have had success with on the steering cables.

 

[bronze_10]

Try a spray lube behind the wheel and at the pumps and work the wheel back and forth... it won't last long but it will let u go out for. Day or so.

 

[the MfM]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/diy-steering-cable-luber.9755/

 

[Gym]

@Av8tor07 Is it stiff on the trailer? Do you boat in salt water? It sounds like you may need to replace your cables. First I would disconnect both cables at the nozzles to see if it is still stiff. If it is the problem is the steering box behind the helm. If not go to the stern of the boat and move both jet nozzles by hand. If they move freely you have bad cables. Even if only one cable is bad I would replace both.

 

[Av8tor07]

@Av8tor07 Is it stiff on the trailer? Do you boat in salt water? It sounds like you may need to replace your cables. First I would disconnect both cables at the nozzles to see if it is still stiff. If it is the problem is the steering box behind the helm. If not go to the stern of the boat and move both jet nozzles by hand. If they move freely you have bad cables. Even if only one cable is bad I would replace both.

No salt water. It’s stiff while sitting on trailer. I had someone move the wheel from side to side while I lived the cable. It’s really hard to move the nozzles by hand. Do you think it’s the cables then? I hope I’m not in for a tough job since I’ll probably do it myself.

 

[the MfM]

do You have an air compressor? It takes like twenty minutes to lube the cables. They’ll be back to like new.

 

[Av8tor07]

do You have an air compressor? It takes like twenty minutes to lube the cables. They’ll be back to like new.

I have a 100 psi pancake type. Is there a link in the Q&A about using a compressor? I’ve never seen it, or do you have your one magical way of doing it? If so please share. Thank you.

 

[the MfM]

I have a 100 psi pancake type. Is there a link in the Q&A about using a compressor? I’ve never seen it, or do you have your one magical way of doing it? If so please share. Thank you.

That will work.

You need a few hose clamps and some flexible tubing. And some quick connect fittings. You attach the hose to the end of the steering cable, fill it with oil and use air pressure to push it through the cable.


Here’s the setup I used. Others used Schrader valves to apply air pressure.... read the thread for more details.

 

[Av8tor07]

That will work.

You need a few hose clamps and some flexible tubing. And some quick connect fittings. You attach the hose to the end of the steering cable, fill it with oil and use air pressure to push it through the cable.


Here’s the setup I used. Others used Schrader valves to apply air pressure.... read the thread for more details.

View attachment 98139

I didn’t see a thread on doing it this way, can you please point me in the right direction.

 

[the MfM]

I didn’t see a thread on doing it this way, can you please point me in the right direction.

I linked it a few posts up

https://jetboaters.net/threads/diy-steering-cable-luber.9755/

Instead of lubing from the stern I hooked up the tubing at the helm. Either way will work.

 

[Gym]

@Av8tor07 Lubing your cables is a good preventative measure but it sounds like your cables are already toast. Once they rust you can't restore them. You may be able to get them useable until your new cables come in but long term, you need to replace them.

I didn't understand if you disconnected your cables before trying to move your nozzles by hand. You should also try moving your steering wheel after disconnecting the cables to see if it's still stiff. Don't forget rusted cables aren't just stiff they are also weakened and can snap with no warning.

 

[Av8tor07]

Hey everyone. Thanks for all of the replies. I just got home and disconnected one of the steering arms and it’s still hard to move. Then I realized what the problem is. I just installed lateral thrusters. I’m 99.9% that I installed them correctly, but I can see that they are the problem. I have cobra fins and the LT’s. I was hoping that the set up would work, but I guess not. Should you be able to pull and push the steering cable when not connected? I’m including a picture.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

That is your problem you locked up the nozzles if you had driven the boat a while the bolt in the lateral thruster would have come loose and would fall out then the nozzle would break off when you placed the controls in reverse , if you mix those you need to buy the alternate side force stabilizer for the Ultimate steering so you don't use the bottom nozzle bolt position and the two can work together with no issues.

 

[Av8tor07]

That is your problem you locked up the nozzles if you had driven the boat a while the bolt in the lateral thruster would have come loose and would fall out then the nozzle would break off when you placed the controls in reverse , if you mix those you need to buy the alternate side force stabilizer for the Ultimate steering so you don't use the bottom nozzle bolt position and the two can work together with no issues.

I’ll fixed now. I tightened the bottom bolt for the lateral thruster too tight, loosed it a bit and I’m back to 1 finger steering. Thanks Jeff. I do love your cobras, I’m trying the LT’s because I got a good deal on them.

 

[Av8tor07]

All good now guys. Thank you very much for the input. I loosed the bolt from the LT’s just a hair and now it’s all good. I will still follow the procedures for lubing the cables, but now it’s not stopping me from enjoying the boat. Thanks again.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

That will probably end in disaster did you remove any of my parts like the .250 spacer , because what you are doing now tells me the bolt will fall out and the nozzles will break in reverse. That is what happened to this nozzle bolt fell out and nozzle broke off in reverse. I make special parts to allow you to do it correctly fooling with the bottom nozzle bolt is not a good idea.

 

[Av8tor07]

That will probably end in disaster did you remove any of my parts like the .250 spacer , because what you are doing now tells me the bolt will fall out and the nozzles will break in reverse. That is what happened to this nozzle bolt fell out and nozzle broke off in reverse. I make special parts to allow you to do it correctly fooling with the bottom nozzle bolt is not a good idea.

All I did was to turn the bottom a fraction of a millimeter. Everything in the nozzle is still really tight. What pert do you suggest I buy? I have no problem getting it if you think that it’ll help.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

You need to remove the current side force stabilizers and replace them with alternate side force stabilizers.
then you need to install the l t the way it is supposed to be installed .

 

[Beachbummer]

If you choose to not heed the warning from Jeff above, and everything looks good, make sure there is Loctite on the bolts, because they will vibrate off. The system is designed to have tight bolts and still turn freely if all is correct, so the fact that you loosened the bolt to make it work is highly suspect. I did what you are doing (both systems/wrong mount), but I needed longer bolt once it was all said and done, and it was pain to fish through all the parts in the right order. By the time I figured out there was an alternative I had already solved it for me, but I understand I'm on my own.

Use Loctite/Thread Locker on your bolts or something will come loose. Something is up since the steering tightens when you tighten the bolt. The steering is supposed to rely on the bushings for movement, not pivot of the bolt.

Best of Luck!.