Cleaning Inside an Outboards Steering Tilt Tube

Tilt Tube Reamer used: amzn.to/34kpm34

[@CodyBosch]

Taking the Scotty Kilmer title route I see. It worked. I clicked!

[@ceisarsrepair7958]

Always store the boat with fresh bearing grease smeared on the steering rod then turn the steering Full Left, that way the rod is not exposed to the weather. Auto parts stores sell brake wheel cylinder hones for under $10, they work just fine if you need to cleanup the bore of the pivot tube. Also, Napa sells "Rust Dissolve" spray, and most often if you first soak the rod, let it sit overnight, then one person at the wheel and one at the motor twisting and then tapping with a brass hammer there's usually no need to disassemble the steering that way, it usually breaks loose in a few minutes.

[@Thewrightstuff777]

Excellent video! I have several old outboards in need of various degrees of help and love your library of help videos!!!!

[@donaldmatthies6026]

That to was a clear and informative video! Thank you for taking time to film and post this video! Could you do a video of your lower unit bench vise, that looks really interesting!

[@unsaltedlife5998]

It’s funny that you post a video after I just had this issue. I used a 12 gauge brass brush for shotguns hooked up to my drill it worked great. Nice shop the place is coming along great 👍.

[@jonpitt1242]

I was just going to post the exact same thing..I used a 12 guage shotgun brush on a drill once before and it worked like a charm

[@1planters]

Yep.. a bronze 12 g brush on a section of cleaning rod and your cordless.

[@unsaltedlife5998]

@@1planters yeah that old grease can be hard as nails. Acetone cuts it quickly with the 12 gauge brush and cleaning rod.

[@DaveGagliardi]

This comment is exactly what I was looking for. I'm sure 12 gauge brass brushes are much cheaper too.

[@btruong968]

Had an Evinrude with heavily corroded tilt tube. Brass brush and sandpaper didn't do enough. I used a cheap 5/8 spade bit to clean the bore out. Wanted to share this in case anyone needed a quick cheap fix!

[@Mr.JayOutdoors]

thanks alot. I tried the 12g cleaning kit wire and it didn't work

[@DougsMessyGarage]

It's amazing how the lack of a little simple routine maintenance can cause so many headaches and hassles.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Its funny, the pontoons steering is feeling a little funny, I thought to myself, "Should I fix it?" Followed by "Naw it'll be fine" We're all guilty of it. Temporary installs become permanent until they fail.

[@fishingfool2644]

I learned something new, a tilt tube reamer. On my last tilt tube fix it was sand paper and wire brushes. Thanks for the tip.

[@helicopterjohns]

Thanks for an informative video. Several years ago I had a 70 HP Evinrude that had the same problem. The cable on mine was still good, but the shaft was frozen in the motor steering mount bracket. I was able to remove the shaft with a little friendly persuasion. I reamed the internal bore with a wooden dowel rod with a slit in the end about 2" long and wrapped a layer or two of 2" wide shop utility emery cloth paper around it and polished the internal bore. Cleaned it out with brake clean and greased the shaft and all was good. Can't quite remember exactly how it did it but I installed a grease fitting on the nut that holds the cable so I could grease it without removing the shaft. Evinrude should have put one or two grease fittings in the housing when they built these motors and could have helped if not completely eliminated this problem. Thanks again for your videos as I really enjoy them. John

[@ct1762]

OMC did include a grease fitting on all the 70hp motors. maybe your was broken off, but its all due to owner niglect. the service manual recommends you take off the steering cable, clean the old grease off, re-lube and install every season or so in salt water.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

What size dowel rod did you use?

[@helicopterjohns]

@@retiredguyadventures6211 Sorry, I can't remember the exact size dowel rod. I measured the bore and got a dowel rod about 1/8" smaller diameter and used it. If your dowel rod was a litter smaller you could just put a few more raps of the 2" wide shop cloth on the slit to make up the size difference. Of course, once you are finished reaming the hole make sure to rinse with brake clean and blow out the hole to remove any debris. You may need to do this several times to get the bore good and clean. Then apply the appropriate grease and install your new shift cable.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

@@helicopterjohns The bore of the trim tube is right at 5/8" so I'm guessing a 1/2" dowel rod should be good. I'm looking at some adhesive backed emery cloth to use with it. Do you remember what grit sandpaper you used?

[@helicopterjohns]

@@retiredguyadventures6211 1/2" Dowel should do the trick. No adhesive is necessary. Just cut a strip about 6" long, center it in the slot and fold it over and over, then insert into the bore and you will be on your way. I just stuck mine in a 1/2" drill and it worked fine. Kind of like a flap disc.

[@SarasotaBayOMC]

Holy shit its 118$ now! The ebay dude has it at 119 now. Its only been a year

[@mikekierstead2938]

Damn I wish time were that simple still!

[@dwcheshire]

Still rockin' that 30 year old NiCad drill, I can't count the number of drills I have had since then.

[@joelstanhope7231]

Cool to see you are using an old blue riobi. I have 2 of them

[@BrandonsGarage]

oh I have the grinder, sawzall, and two drills. Ive probably had them close to 20 years now.

[@eric_seguin]

@@BrandonsGarage I bought the new +1 system a long time ago. A year later saw a black case on the trash at a moveout. Didn't know what it was but it said Ryobi on it. The new batteries are backwards compatible. Now I have a set at my house and all Ryobi for my shop. Maintenance guy has all Dewault. Wanted to borrow my drill because his battery was dead. I reminded him that he thought Ryobi was crap. He doesn't like me anymore. I don't loan my tools to kin. And I know where they live. lol

[@tcap7917]

Just did this with a long drill bit wrapped in sandpaper then scotchbrite pad. If reusing the old steering cable you may need to file down some burrs crewated from hammering.

[@terriburke1765]

Sand the cable relube and make a tube sander with old cable and sand paper .

[@ct1762]

yea works great on light freshwater rust, but wait till you try rusted salty ones. the issue with this reamer is it isn't tapered, so the rust just builds up infront of it and the reamer gets stuck. you can try to blow it out with compressed air as you go, but since its flat it will still get stuck.

[@samtate1260]

Awesome job I like watching your videos I picked up a Gale 1961 5 hp 25 bucks and the gas can looked like new inside the lower cowl is so high it is hard to compression check

[@BrandonsGarage]

oh yes, a seaking huh? how was the compression?

[@samtate1260]

@@BrandonsGarage low after I finely got the bottom plug out very tight room 48 psi even on each cylinder dry didn’t have any gas at the time probably come up a little the coils are falling apart but I got two coming

[@xspower8899]

I grind the burs off the bit that gets belted before it enters the tube, learnt that the hard way.

[@zook909]

👍 always shop around for specialty parts. Cool simple and short video. Question what were you spraying to help loosen it up?

[@BrandonsGarage]

PB Blaster. sometimes WD40 sometimes liquid wrench. Heck, sometimes its just used gearcase oil, really it boils down to what I have within arms reach.

[@pdlegend6829]

A simple $5 brake cylinder hone works just fine...

[@richardwernst]

Is there any seal or seals on that to keep water out? I guess the steering cable seals that end, or does it? Why isn't there a grease fitting on the tilt tube to stop this from happening, and/or could one be put in fairly easily? Thanks.

[@plumbucket65]

Thanks

[@rok7980]

Brandon, How can I get both the nuts off the ends of the tilt tube on an Evinrude v4? The starboard nut is loose, but the nut on the port side is frozen and the whole tube just spins. I need to get that port side nut off so i can push some oil through my steering cable with a hose and compressor. I cannot remove the steering cable because the engine is to close to the boat, unless you remove the engine and I do not have the tools for that. Please Help.

[@michaelmcmahan2982]

What would the next course of action be if the unit still does not rotate. I have a 69 55HP Johnson with such a problem.

[@gregrogers6088]

I have a stuck steering cable nut and having a bear of a time getting it off the steering tube. The tube keeps turning and not sure how to stop it from turning. Any ideas would be great. Ready to give up and take it to the experts do you have any ideas for removing the nut so I can remove the cable? Thanks for the video

[@kylej741]

I get visions of Darth Vader without his helmet on.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I usually get visions of Charlotte spinning me into a web and slowing eating me while calling me Wilbur. ...it's pretty weird.

[@LugoDH]

I pushed some steel wool through mine and out the other end an o ring came out? Where could it have been from?

[@FuryCA]

Hey Brandon, I just reassembled the gearcase for my 1979 Evinrude 15, and when I turn the prop by hand I hear a ratcheting/clicking noise coming from the gears. Is this normal? I have heard on some models it is. Thanks

[@BrandonsGarage]

Not really, is your shift rod adjusted correctly? clutch dog could be hitting the gear, almost engaging. detent balls/springs go back in okay? is the ratcheting constant?

[@rustyschoen471]

i have a steering issue when i let go or steering wheel either running or not the steering shaft slides out causing it to turn not stuck but pushes out

[@saulalbertofrancolopez4041]

Ya no lo venden en Amazon pero que diámetro tiene el escariador

[@michaelbarnes7538]

What size reema are you using to clear the tilt trim.tube please

[@howardsteussy7622]

you can heat with torch and it works faster

[@omcbob37]

Instead of the tube reamer tool, how about a flex-hone tool of the correct size for less than $20.

[@saulalbertofrancolopez4041]

De cuantos mm. Es el diámetro del escariador

[@steveo7265]

What's the best way to protect the steering so that you don't have to ream it out? Grease or some other lubricant?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Marine gearse (it doesnt wash out)

[@thangknowa2567]

12 gauge shotgun bore brush, oil, clean, more oil, clean, then pull oily 12 gauge cloth back and forth to remove all grit to be as clean as possible. Quicksilver teflon grease, good to go.

[@-Viceroy-]

Your clickbait skills are improving. Now you need to up the thumbnail game to 'clickbaity' also.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

i did that... and the marinas was furious!!!!

[@Oo7Hola]

Can you show us how to remove the tilt assy cylinder ?

[@BrandonsGarage]

On what outboard?

[@Oo7Hola]

@@BrandonsGarage 1984 evinrude 50HP. All my pins are rusted frozen and my cylinder I believe as well. I can barely move the engine up or down. And also, do you know if I can rebuild the cylinder? It’s not a power cylinder but tilt aid cylinder.

[@JoeRocket-sf6qs]

This is a simple fix grease ur joints regularly and it will not happen at all.

[@sandys9791]

I would totally just use a drill bit.

[@craigkaschan4822]

OMC insisted on making them tubes out of steel even after they knew there was a problem.

[@xnstlr]

Hey man I live pretty close. Would like to talk 20ft pontoon going to redo after we cool down here. Anyway to pm or private messages?

[@BrandonsGarage]

email me, its in the "about" section

[@davekimbler2308]

Dang reamers are NOT cheap plus you need 150 different sizes ! Lol. Take the tube off and bore it on a lathe ! Lol. Are you doing a series on that outboard ? How about a VRO delete video ?! And tuning WOT style ?

[@xspower8899]

Or buy a new tube for 80 bucks.

[@davekimbler2308]

@@xspower8899 or buy a used tube for $10

[@heyreddin2.0s10]

Sure lathes are cheap.

[@andrewpolasek5524]

Beats me why the steering cable is manufactured with such a tight clearance through the tilt tube. There is nothing happening except at the end of the cable. With another 1/4" of clearance this wouldn't be an issue. After doing this miserable job 3 times I am doing the only sensible thing: coverting to hydraulic steering.

[@havocsquad1]

The title reads like a troll/clickbait ad for some snake oil type of boat product. Kind of funny for a moment. Compression fixer/head gasket uber goo, etc. Whatever name one can think of. Pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I know, I think its kinda funny. But really, its just an experiment to see if I can rake in the views.

[@robertshelton3796]

@@BrandonsGarage I don't want you to alienate viewers but look at your stats: - "9.9 with big surprise": 12k views - "Sitting 34 years, will it run?" 9k views - "Aftermarket power trim switch" 1k views. Retitle that one "I saved hundreds fixing my power trim switch" and see the views come up. It's not "SSSniperWolf" but then you're not a yelly girl with huge boobs. Thanks for the vids btw, I really do enjoy watching even though my wife won't let me get a boat.

[@ronzor8035]

Never turn a reamer backwards

[@pm270100]

good now drill the tube and let the grease in ya with me

[@robertshelton3796]

Title: Marinas hate this one simple trick to fix your stuck outboard steering Then you get the video to 10mins with some drone and gopro footage of the pontoon boat out on the lake with a soundtrack of that weird dubstep sequaling music they use on B is for Build and Rebuilder Guy. Like whatever this is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqDOfGiunq5ghpo Also change the thumbnail to one of your son holding the drill with the reamer to give the image that it's so easy a child could do it. I think that covers all the obnoxious youtube tropes :) Is that ceramic or vinyl floor in the shop?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Oh thats hilarious. Next time I do something incredibly simple, I'll pad it out as described. And its just a vinyl floor; I'll screw it up so fast, its easy to just replace it. Also, the engine hoist has rubber wheels to accommodate the flooring; the edges of the steel wheels slice through it like razor blades when you load a 500 pound motor them.

[@ArthurNetteler]

Your NO Mechanic!!!

[@BrandonsGarage]

You're*

[@brendancole5109]

I'm a mechanic and I can confirm his work is quality. You sir are a douche

[@Mr.JayOutdoors]

do you know the exact size that is?? the shotgun cleaning dyi didn't work