How to Clean Outboard Steering Cables

Maintaining your outboard steering cables can keep your old boat running and driving like new. Learning how to clean outboard steering cables can save you from stiff outboard steering as well as entire steering seizure. Fortunately for boaters keeping your steering in like-new condition is very easy as well as cheap.

[@ryan.vision]

Appreciate the video - quick and to the point! I didn't want to tackle this without seeing someone else do it first. Now I know exactly what to do this weekend to fix my stiff steering. Thanks

[@guyh.4553]

Great quick info! Getting ready to change out my motor so this is extremely useful! Thanks

[@alanmerrihew6647]

You solved my problem! Thank you so much for this great video! I am back in business now.

[@Quins9]

Mate! Thanks so much for this. Worked a treat. I’m useless at DIY and engines - I am to engine repair what Liberace was to UFC fighting! This worked a treat! I owe you a beer fro NZ!

[@TheAmericanAngling]

Glad i could help! Thanks for checking it out!

[@josephm40]

I heard Liberace was a pretty fair grappler.

[@gutmincer2]

should have a top washer too :)

[@byronhowe6753]

Thanks that was an easy video to follow

[@TheAmericanAngling]

We've been trying to figure that out for a while. Short of using something like the Cable Buddy there aren't many other options. amzn.to/2uB8W5v

[@butterbean4195]

hey does anybody know of a way to get oil or grease into the cable itself? like all the way to the steering box?

[@Fishingin290]

Can you put a link where to get the 12 gauge brush with extension?

[@chasepeterson3293]

What if the prod that's on the opposite end that you inserted the rod into doesn't move at all, it's stuck like it was pounded in and won't move anywhere. ? Please help

[@TheAmericanAngling]

We've had that problem on other boats, on one we were able to back out the bolts that mount the motor to the transom and use a floor jack to tilt the motor to get the cable out. Unfortunately on another we were forced to cut it out and remove the tilt-tube. The best thing you could probably do would be to spray a penetrating oil and try to use a hammer and a round something to bash it out.

[@chasepeterson3293]

American Angling hey thanks for the info, ended up pounding it out and fixed the problem. Was a ton of work and if it would had been another half inch would had to of cut it. Thanks for the reply

[@1planters]

Help!! Steering VERY stiff on my Mercury 115 outboard. I can't pull the cable out of the tube because there is not enough clearance. Is my only option taking the motor off the boat? Scarey thought for a boating rookie.

[@toddenglish3427]

I have a 99 Larson and had the same issue. I loosened the mounting bolts , on eside more than the other, and was able to angle the motor enough to slide the cable from the tube. You just need to figure out which way to tilt the motor to get enough clearance to slide it out. Bare in mind that this comment also comes from a rookie boat owner ;) You may want to check out this video on how to lube the cables themselves.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jne3i2aErNSmZ6c

[@BetweentheCheeks00]

Pound it out with a punch and brass hammer

[@dallasacuff9335]

I did this but the boat was still hard to turn left

[@daveumpref]

AA.. It looks like you were working on a yamaha, were you and what size. I've got a 2004 75hp and I doubt it's been cleaned. how long did this take you?

[@TheAmericanAngling]

Actually - was a Johnson - I believe when we did my friend's Yamaha it was really similar. Was around a 2 hour process including finding the screws in the fiberglass.

[@Amazingfeet]

quick simple process,,, errr nope, ive spent days trying to get mine out the tube, tried heat, oils etc anyone know something that will actually work?

[@nigelthomas8899]

Mine needed a rod and hammer to come loose.

[@Amazingfeet]

@@nigelthomas8899 no room for either sadly

[@nigelthomas8899]

@@Amazingfeet may need to replace the whole cable, they are 80 to 130 dollars usually. Cut it with an angle grinder? Then pound it out? Either way I would clean it extremely well before replacement.

[@joeblowjohnny2297]

I came for a stuck cable itself and not the cable housing .

[@justinw523]

You forgot to test the cable itself for any kind of stiffness

[@sil5771]

yea how to do that?

[@williamhaskellhaskell3162]

It may be possible to lube cable itself. With vac pulled on motor end. Draw lube through the front side ? Into the cable interior !

[@storyoc]

you cleaned the tilt tube rod not the cable-just rename the video