Is the problem my steering cable?

[manuntguy3]

Alright so I've been noticing my steering wheel sticking the past year and this weekend we took my 2003 tige 20v out and my lord the steering was bad. I could hardly put the boat on the trailer because of how bad the steering was sticking. After reading all the steering cable threads I knew for sure that it had to be the steering the cable, but after further investigation I'm not so sure. I took the rack off underneath the steering column and the steering wheel was still hard to turn. With no cable connected the steering wheel was still sticking and hard to turn. So I oiled that up and got it turning pretty easy and then went to investigate the steering cable. Bare with me with this description because its hard to expain. Ok when the rack was held straight with no bend in the cable, I got my brother to turn the rudder. It made the little teeth in the rack turn like butter and it was very very easy to turn the rudder back and forth, No sticking or anything. The problem occurred when i had to bend the cable back to bolt it back in under the steering wheel. With the 90 degree bend it was impossible to turn the rudder back and forth and when hooked back up to the steering wheel it was very very stiff to turn and eventually the sticking returned. I have no clue what to do from here. I dont want to change the steering cable if it doesnt need it. I just dont know what the problem is. Any feedback?

[skippabcool]

There was a thread where the steering wheel bolt was bent. But it does sound like you cable may need to be changed as well.

[Ewok]

Check the rudder box too, that requires at least annual Mx too. Usually a shotnof grease but yours might require more work.

[Al Pistol]

Still sounds to me like there is a problem with the steering cable. When I replaced mine this year on the '01 21V I could turn the rudder back and fourth pretty easily with my hands even when the steering cable rack is installed and the cable has a 90 degree bend in it. I would lube the steering rack with white lithium really good and try that out. That's my 2 cents at least. The rudder box also has a grease fitting that needs lubed each year as others have already pointed out. Make sure you turn the wheel all the way to the left when the boat is stored, that will keep the cable inside the housing and reduce the risk of freezing up.

[Wakesurfection]

Hi Guys
Is the rudder box where the cable connects to a bolt on the rudder? How did you reach the rudder box? I've got my engine in the way
What did you use to lube the rudder box?

[Wakesurfection]

Hi Al Pistol
How do you access the steering rack and open that up?

[Ewok]

Hi Guys
Is the rudder box where the cable connects to a bolt on the rudder? How did you reach the rudder box? I've got my engine in the way
What did you use to lube the rudder box?

The rudder box is where the steering cable attatches to the rudder. It has a zerk fitting to add grease if required. It is very hard to reach if your engine is on top of it.

[skippabcool]

I get to mine reaching down behind the engine using a grease gun with a hose and then have someone in the locker with the divider removed and the access door (taps pump or batteries) opened that guides the hose on the zerk. You have to be like a monkey. When I did that I was not able to get much grease into the zerk and heard back that others have seen the same thing.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

Alright so I've been noticing my steering wheel sticking the past year and this weekend we took my 2003 tige 20v out and my lord the steering was bad. I could hardly put the boat on the trailer because of how bad the steering was sticking. After reading all the steering cable threads I knew for sure that it had to be the steering the cable, but after further investigation I'm not so sure. I took the rack off underneath the steering column and the steering wheel was still hard to turn. With no cable connected the steering wheel was still sticking and hard to turn. So I oiled that up and got it turning pretty easy and then went to investigate the steering cable. Bare with me with this description because its hard to expain. Ok when the rack was held straight with no bend in the cable, I got my brother to turn the rudder. It made the little teeth in the rack turn like butter and it was very very easy to turn the rudder back and forth, No sticking or anything. The problem occurred when i had to bend the cable back to bolt it back in under the steering wheel. With the 90 degree bend it was impossible to turn the rudder back and forth and when hooked back up to the steering wheel it was very very stiff to turn and eventually the sticking returned. I have no clue what to do from here. I dont want to change the steering cable if it doesnt need it. I just dont know what the problem is. Any feedback?

Andrew Haney can get you a dang good deal on the cable... Jus sayin.

[Al Pistol]

You can't really "open" the rack, but you should be able to lube the hell out of it with a sticky grease that won't leak out. That might make a difference. Just unbolt from the helm and spray into the open side.