outboard cable steering problem

[klavamode]

i have a 92 evinrude 48 and the steering cable is frozen inside the steering tube on the port side. i can not turn the steering wheel. the motor turns fine once i disconnected it so it's not the motor. i don't know how to free it. i disconnected the cable end nut on the starboard side and sprayed some wd40 into the tube to try to free it up with no luck. any info would be helpful. thanks.

[MJ CORMIER]

Unfortunatly there is no clear cut solution to your problem, somwhere within the tube your cablr is seized, all you can do is try to free it up or replace it.
Wish I had better news or could be of more help, but thats the long and the short of it.
Mike

[klavamode]

thanks for getting back to me. i was thinking about using an engine degreaser.

[MJ CORMIER]

That may work, if you have access to FILM FLUID or RUST CHECK & and there is 1 more product out there called KROIL, I find it hard to come by and it's pricey, it may take some time for results so be pateint, If you can remove the cable it is easier to deal with and an extra man on the job is a big help. Welcome to the best little site in town,Hope you enjoy your stay with us and will join in on what ever issues you feel comfortable discussing.
Mike:smile2:

[joed]

If you remove the cable can you try twisting it as well pushing/pulling it.

[Wgoodrich]

Your quest is not going to be easy. The replies have been good to help you. May be a good idea to combine all the replies in your work to free up the cable. I have removed a cable. Had a bucket of thin oil and coiled up the cable placing it submerged in that oil. Let it there a week. Then I pushed and pulled while bending the cable back and forth about every 1 foot along the cable as I pushed and pulled. It moved just a bit. Then soaked it in the oil after it moved a bit and every day flexed the cable and pushed and pulled till it it became free moving. It can be done but patience and stubbornness is your best tools to do the job.

Good Luck

Wg

[joed]

When and if you get it free will you be able to trust it? How much damage is there internally? Might be better off just replacing the cable.

[Herdsman]

Here's a mail a friend forwarded to me a while ago. Can't say I've tried it, but it might help here as well as being of more general value? Your experience may vary, of course, e.g. it's always seemed to me that PB Blaster worked better then Liquid Wrench, a conclusion this test seems to disprove:

Fwd: Fw: [Homebuilt Equipment for Tractors]Machinist's Workshop magazine actually tested penetrants for break out torque on rusted nuts. Significant results! They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist, Bud Baker.
*Don't forget the April 2007 "Machinist's Workshop" magazine comparison test. They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrants with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment. *

Penetrating oil ..... Average load

None ............ ......... 516 pounds
WD-40 ............ ...... 238 pounds
PB Blaster ............ . 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ..... 127 pounds
Kano Kroil ............ 106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix....53 pounds

*The ATF-Acetone mix was a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone.*
*Note the "home brew" was better than any commercial product in this one particular test. Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is about as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price.*

[MJ CORMIER]

Ya see its guys like you that make guys like US smart, I will try this formula,
UNFORTUNATLEY you will not receive any of the credit, we that learned fabrication in our youger years means we could fabricate a couple of tall tales too
HEE HEE !!!:flute:

[Herdsman]

Ya see its guys like you that make guys like US smart, I will try this formula,
UNFORTUNATLEY you will not receive any of the credit, we that learned fabrication in our youger years means we could fabricate a couple of tall tales too
HEE HEE !!!:flute:

No credit needed or wanted... just send cash! :rofl:


Seriously, if you try it, let us know how it works...

[Wgoodrich]

Joed has a very valid point. I had an 80 horse power outboard with three guys in it fishing Teledo Bend Texax lake.. This was like fishing in a forest of trees in the water with only channels with fast 90 degree turns all the way down the channels. I was running full speed planed out when my steering cable broke. One guy put a death grip on me. One guy put a death grip on the front pedistal seat. I held on with all I had to the steering wheel which suddenly was usless !. My boat jumped into the air and landed dipping water on one side then boomerang in the air again twisting and dipping water on the other side. We came to a stop with a boat full of water after something else had taken over protecting our lives missing trees. Don't ask me how, I was driving and had nothing to do with steering due to the suddenly broken steering cable. Once we all got our breath back and our hearts beating normally again, no one spoke till we limped to dry ground at the docks again. Never will forget that experience with a smaller outboard motor. Bigger motors often had dual steering cables due to the dangers of lost steering at high speeds.

Wg