Another stiff steering question

[watdog]

The past two weekends I have been prepping and upgrading the boat for the season. Today I sat at the helm and for no particular reason tried to turn the steering wheel. It was stuck! Applied a little pressure and it started moving but not as it did last year. Did troubleshooting and determined it was the starboard steering cable with the issue. I have no idea why it's suddenly stiff and searched this group only to find it appears to be a common issue. My question is there any safety concern or do I have to just use a little more effort to turn? Plan on replacing the cables at some point just don't want to do it right now.

 

[WREKS]

I do not think they will free up. In fact when that happened to my 2007 SX 230, they eventually locked up. No choice but to replace them then. When I installed new ones, I covered entire knuckle with threaded nut where it emerges from transom with flexible sealant to inhibit salt corrosion.

 

[VaMarine]

The past two weekends I have been prepping and upgrading the boat for the season. Today I sat at the helm and for no particular reason tried to turn the steering wheel. It was stuck! Applied a little pressure and it started moving but not as it did last year. Did troubleshooting and determined it was the starboard steering cable with the issue. I have no idea why it's suddenly stiff and searched this group only to find it appears to be a common issue. My question is there any safety concern or do I have to just use a little more effort to turn? Plan on replacing the cables at some point just don't want to do it right now.

Have this same issue and about 60 miles north of you, on a 2018 242... im looking for the thread on cleaning the oil in them.. Ill post here if i can locate it.

 

[watdog]

I hope that is something that can be done, but I'm looking into replacements.

 

[VaMarine]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/steering-cable-lubrication-2015.25683/

Replacement parts at least for the 242 is 400+ im going to try this solution and see if it works

 

[WREKS]

Here are a couple pics of what
I did after installing new cables. Sealed on both sides of transom.Sealing cables It has worked so far. All the same, I hope y'all can free them up.

 

[watdog]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/steering-cable-lubrication-2015.25683/

Replacement parts at least for the 242 is 400+ im going to try this solution and see if it works

Me too this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[watdog]

Here are a couple pics of what
I did after installing new cables. Sealed on both sides of transom.Sealing cables It has worked so far. All the same, I hope y'all can free them up.

What is that silicone? Mine is leaking there.

 

[WREKS]

@watdog I got a marine sealant at Home Depot in the paint department.
To explain a bit: Inside that flexible joint covered with the marine type sealant is a cable-to-rod connection. That is where mine finally jammed after attempting to free it up with lubricant. I cut it open and it was rusted in place. Even stainless steel has some iron in it, so when saltwater enters these joints from the pressure of the swirling water, they probably never really dry out. Also, It doesn't help if the cables are not exercised on a regular basis.

 

[watdog]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/steering-cable-lubrication-2015.25683/

Replacement parts at least for the 242 is 400+ im going to try this solution and see if it works

I did force oil into it and it worked out about 80% of the stiffness. Found it is leaking around a boot where it goes through the transom.

@watdog I got a marine sealant at Home Depot in the paint department.
To explain a bit: Inside that flexible joint covered with the marine type sealant is a cable-to-rod connection. That is where mine finally jammed after attempting to free it up with lubricant. I cut it open and it was rusted in place. Even stainless steel has some iron in it, so when saltwater enters these joints from the pressure of the swirling water, they probably never really dry out. Also, It doesn't help if the cables are not exercised on a regular basis.

Thanks. I think that is where my problem is also.

 

[VaMarine]

@WREKS when you replaced the cable, is it the whole assembly, or can i just replace one cable?

 

[WREKS]

@VaMarine On my 2007 I replaced them one at time.

 

[Troch1]

@WREKS when you replaced the cable, is it the whole assembly, or can i just replace one cable?

Yours is a whole assembly. You cannot replace a single cable.

 

[VaMarine]

Yours is a whole assembly. You cannot replace a single cable.

Thanks! I was able to find an SBT one for replacement. as Yahamas parts back order is too long a wait.