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Hi,

I'm winterizing my boat and trying to disconnect the steering cable. I unscrewed the large nut and was able to slide out the cable to it's end, but it won't come out completely. It seems to hit the end of the steering line and then stop moving. Do I need to disconnect something aside from the large nut attaching the cable to the steering arm?

Thanks,

Gordon

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No, get something long to fit into the tube and give it a little tap with a hammer...

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What boat do you have? What motor?

Classic 15 foot Whalers need to have the motor backed off the transom a bit to get the steering cable in and out.

If this is what you have, then easiest thing to do is loosen the two mounting bolts on the starboard side, maybe 1/2" and then remove the mounting bolt nuts for the port side so the motor can be backed off at an angle that allows the tilt tube and steering cable to angle forward so the cable does not bump into the transom notch when you try to pull it out.

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Tom is right. When I had to remove mine, the engine had to be unbolted.

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Thanks Tom.

I have a 1986 Montauk 17. '86 Mercury 90HP.

The cable itself doesn't bump into anything on the motor or boat itself. It just slights completely out and then the end of it feels like it has something on it to prevent the tube from coming out.

Now that you know the model/motor, do you think my scenario is the same as your describe?

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I'm not clear on what you are saying. The end of the steering cable is a rod, not a tube. This should simply pull through the tilt tube on the motor.

If the end of the steering cable rod (which has the hole in it for the steering link) is stopping at the end of the tilt tube, it is probably because it is slightly deformed and just needs to be driven through or the end cleaned up with a file enough for it to pull through more easily.


As is often the case, a picture is worth a thousand words. Do you have a photograph?

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Tom, I uploaded 3 photos of the steering cable. I've pulled it out as far as it would come. The reason I'm pulling it out is because I read up on the "Master Tech Marine" website about what to do when winterizing my boat and disconnecting the steering cable was one of the items on the check list.

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Looks like you need to take the nut off the other end of the steering cable where it attaches to the steering link arm...

http://www.whalercentral.com/images/p...C_6252.jpg

NOTE:
I reduced the size of your photos for you down to 640x480 which is the maximum size allowed in the personal page section.
Your personal page also won't show up unless you put your boat information in the boxes provided and also put a title to your page. You also need to turn it online....
See the instructions in the Frequently Asked Questions link on the left sidebar:
http://www.whalercentral.com/faq.php?...p?cat_id=1

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Like I said, turn the wheel until the rod is in the closed(disconnect the steering link from the end of the rod) position, then use a rod/tool, what ever that will fit inside the steering tube to hammer the rod through/out of the steering tube. Your grease in the tube has dried out, once you get the rod out used a shot gun cleaning brush on a drill motor to clean out the steering tube on the engine. Dip the shotgun brush in some type of cleaning/degrease....good luck

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Thanks, Joe. I believe I made the correct changes.

I'll try disconnecting the other side of the steering cable and report back. Thanks for the tip on the shotgun brush cleaner also.

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Looking at the photos, the problem is quit obvious. The steering cable is still connected to the motor via the steering link. Do NOT hammer the steering rod, that will damage the steering cable and the steering arm on the motor.

You must disconnect the steering link for the end of the cable before the cable can move any further. Once you do this it will pull out.