Boat steering cable repair

This is how I fixed the stiff steering on my boat.

[@stevesnodg]

I have the same problem. Tomorrow, I am going to take it off the boat and do the same thing. Thanks for taking the time to post this!

[@danloyd8462]

Thanks. I watched several frozen cable videos and all were helpful. I lucked out and fixed mine before removing it from the boat in a way I hadn’t seen. I hope it may help others. Where the cable attaches with a nylon nut to the motor, I used a pair of Vise-Grips. Without unscrewing this nut (everything’s still assembled and motor straight), I attached Vise-Grips to the stainless male fitting about one inch from the nylon nut (end of the cable). I twisted/jiggled the Vise-Grips up and down slightly, and it broke loose. Be careful: There’s VERY little play of only 1/8-1/4 inch to twist/jimmy the Vise-Grips because the nut may break. Mines a salt water 96 1802 Trophy with the original Teleflex steering from the rack through the cable. I’ve used vasoline as the lubricant and thinking white grease or teflon based waterproof grease. To clean the male insert: I turned the wheel to expose the entire stainless cable tube and wiped off all the old vasoline with clean rags. Then, I thickly applied the vasoline again, turned the wheel all the way to bury the stainless rod, and turned it back again to wipe it off. There was dark gunk all over the rod coming out. I repeated this about a dozen times until the rod came out clean. Works like new.

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

Greasing/ lubing cables is "easy." The way we used to do motorbike cables. Go to a real auto parts store and get a few short pieces of various size fuel/ neoprene hose. You need one which will slip over one end of the cable and clamp to the jacket. Then use tubing/ other hose/ whatever you need to reduce the open end of that hose so that you can get your lube "device" connected. I used to have a can you could apply a bit of air pressure, just force the lube right through the jacket

[@leewilson2972]

I was having the same problem. One thing that really helps is taking brake fluid and cleaning the old, hard grease off the part that slides in and out, helped quite a bit.

[@vmpub]

I need to try and repair my cable. I guess any grease will do. Thanks for the video.

[@Artseventy6]

Yeah that's good, I'm glad that worked out for you, thanks for watching

[@skipperskipper2936]

Put 1 end in pail of crank case drainage oil. Put other end inside (and seal it ) thr shop vac hose and duck the oil allway through

[@Artseventy6]

Yeah it's definitely worth a try, I did this to another cable as well and it worked on that one too, Good luck, let me know if it works for you.

[@Artseventy6]

Yeah I've heard good things about pb, but the wd40 worked fine and the steering was still working fine when I recently sold the boat, and it wasn't so much about the money, I had a cable picked out ready to order but figured I would try this repair first

[@Artseventy6]

Yeah, good luck with your repair, the wd-40 was the first and only lubricant I tried and it worked out for me.

[@Artseventy6]

Hey thanks, good luck with it, hope it works out

[@MM-zb1uj]

I had same problem, i used 4 meter 50 mm pvc pipe and a stopper in the end fælled it up with diesel Oil. It was losse aften 4 days...

[@Artseventy6]

Thanks, I do have some pb but just grabbed the wd40 first and it worked fine

[@zash008]

I found that WD40 after a while will turn to a gel type substance and actually causes problems it temporarily fixes in some circumstances. PB blaster is FAR more superior but a follow up with an airline oil is what I would've done. Since the sheath is worn thru I'd be saving up for a new cable in the meantime.

[@gregatron4528]

I agree with anyone saying use the pb blaster stuff. Of course the wd is everyone's old school everybody born prior to 85 has been taught to use wd 40 lol so anyways I had a steering wheel stuck to the shaft lately and I sprayed it with pb blaster and I couldn't pull it off. A few days later I went and tugged at it again for some reason and it pretty much flew outta my hand! Lol so I do swear by that stuff now.

[@boashna]

good video .. try pb blaster which is cheap and 50 times better sold everywhere

[@Flyjoskua]

Did the same to mine but after a month seized again and worst completely stuck even putting grease on it

[@heffptbo]

lol, always negative stuff on videos. Good video anyways, I am debating trying something. I may try your wd-40 to ease it up; then follow with fluid film which is oil based after and hope it seeps down.

[@mtin12]

I've heard it's good to use gear lube.

[@Artseventy6]

Actually it's not a Z28, it's a '76 Type LT, started body work for a winter project, yeah right, about 4 winters ago 😏

[@samsdad900]

now lets talk about the Z28

[@Artseventy6]

I love Mickey mouse!, and WD40, I don't think the grease would seep down into the cable like WD40 did. And the steering is working perfectly, so I saved myself some money, I would be glad to buy a new cable, just send me $100 and I will.

[@williamhaskellhaskell3162]

The lube can't get in the cable at the motor end.

[@Artseventy6]

Are you asking if it can't, or telling me it can't?

[@hangar-fivefivesix5427]

Lol awesome

[@josepeixoto3384]

wd40 is not for that; there are better products in a spray can, i also use kerosene,followed by diesel mixed with thinner or acetone,that is the best for that

[@NovoGold]

Not worth it when it snaps and your on the water, should of replaced it..!!!

[@Rhup234]

Mickey mouse, WD-40 is NOT worth a damn. AT least use lithium grease. PLUS, the sheathing is GONE, go buy a new cable, or a new boat Don't mickey mouse it!