frozen steering cable

[eaglesfanguy]

hey folks.I was wondering have any of yall experienced your steering freez up?I have an 18 ft lugana sea ray ,with a 115 merc. Well when i went to do try outs i couldnt get the steering wheel to move the motor.I greased the fittings and still nothing.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips to fix this .
I have been manually moving the steering rod from the motor via 3lb maul and some degreasers. It seems the grease has hardened.
I was told you put high pressure air into the grease fittings and that will blow out the old crap . but 120 psi isnt done a thing.

If there is any marine place you guys recomend id be apprieciative of it.But mainly im trying an at home fix.

thansk for any help you can give me
steve

[Fish Hunter]

Sounds like the cable and actuator are rusted solid. Time for new parts.

[cocoflea]

I would ask that question on the boating board on this site I'm sure if they don't know the answer they can direct you to the best place to go for help

[Orest]

Hat80 would know. Hope he back on line soon.

Maybe Nick (CatMan) can help.

[catman]

Hey Steve....Did you try applying heat to it with a propane torch? It's probably fused together. Can you remove the grease fitting? If you can WD-40 might disolve the hardened grease. If not looks like it's time to visit the parts store. :rolleyes: Good luck.

Catman. :)

[Smoothbore54]

I had the same thing happen, many years ago.

It required heating with a torch to melt the old grease and expand the outer sleeve.

I wire brushed off the corrosion, and pumped it full of waterproof, "boat trailer grease."

It worked fine for the 4 or 5 years that I owned that boat.

The only alternative is to replace the cable, so you might as well give it a shot.

You've got nothing to lose.

[eaglesfanguy]

I was told early in this post to try the boating board... Well i got better and more suggestions on the open forum.Thanks to all that added there 2 cents.I was told today the heating it with a propane torch was the only option i had left.Just as you all suggested.Im going to try it as soon as the rain lets up.Even hardened grease has a melting point.Such simple advice and i havent tried it.I was using a come along winch to pull the motor open and hammering it closed to no avail.

Its not the cable its self i dissconnected it and it moves smoothly when not attached to the motor so its the actuator thats seized.I got plenty of propane for her azz now.Either im gonna free it or set my boat a flame..lol.

i got an extinguisher..
thanks again for the help.