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I have a 2003 Whaler Sport 150. with a 60HP 2 stroke Mercury. Over the the winter the steering has seized up. The steering was stiff last year so I think its time to probably replace the system. Im looking for recommendations, tips and what to do. I assume I can do this job myself. Im looking at the SeaStar Safe-T Quick-Connect Rotary Steering System. This system sounds like it would be right for my boat. Is it as easy to hook up as they make it sound? Can I keep the existing steering wheel? If you know the proper length steering cable for the Sport 150 could you please share it so I can skip the math.
The steering requires periodic maintenance and is probably repairable. If you don't take care of it, you will be replacing the steering cable every 3-5 years.
Is the steering stuck in the motor or is it stuck in the steering cable outer sleeve. Willing to bet it is stuck in the motor. If it is then you may not need a new cable, but you will need to pull it from the tilt tube to clean and re grease.
acassidy wrote:
Is the steering stuck in the motor or is it stuck in the steering cable outer sleeve. Willing to bet it is stuck in the motor. If it is then you may not need a new cable, but you will need to pull it from the tilt tube to clean and re grease.
It is 100% in the tilt tube. Im having a heck of a time getting the nut off of the threaded part of the tilt tube. I used an angle grinder and cut the the cable earlier today. funny, now the steering wheel turns with so much ease. Im certain the problem is in the tube, but how do i get that nut off???!!!!
I would heat up the tilt tube with propane torch the very center of it, and then spray in penetrating oil any where you can get it in. It should boil when it hits it. Then reheat and spray more. I would not heat up for super long time to make it glow. That would be way too much. You are just wants it to really warm up and stretch.
Then let it set a while maybe 6 hours or over night. This is to give penetrating oil a chance to soak.
Then heat it up again and do the penetrating oil again.
While it is hot hot, I would put a phillip screwdriver in the hole in the end of the cable and twist it back and forth and it push and pull it in and out.
I would start there and maybe it will start moving for you.
The reason it is frozen is that the grease in the tube had hardened and it is like a rock once hardened. The heat and penetrating oil will help break that grease up.
Once it starts moving you can remove the tube and the nut.
When heating the tube you could tilt all the way up and go under it or tilt all the way down and on the front. Dont keep the torch in one place but keep it moving back and forth.
This is what I would do, but I have never done this before on a tilt tube.
Good luck.
Archie
Be careful not to use a vice grip or pipe wrench on the nut, you do not want to oblong the nut. I would use a pipe wrench (not vice grips) on the cable side so as not to crimp. I have a series of large long wrenches for nuts that are stubborn. Make sure sized right with no slop. I like using tri flow for freeing up the joint.
