Lubricating Steering Cable For 1989 Basstracker 1800Tf (Fiberglass)

[n8cas4]

Bass Tracker 1800TF - Fiberglass (1989) with a Mercury xr4 Magnum II 150 hp outboard. 

 

It's an old boat, and I'm new to boat ownership.  It's really tough to steer and I'd like to make it at least a little easier to steer without buying a new cable (can't afford it right now).  Where do I lubricate the cable and what lubricant should I use?  Thanks.

 

 

[Way2slow]

There are concoctions you can use that help, but it's going to take a cable to fix it. 75% Trans fluid and 25% brake fluid has always been my best brew. You will need to get the cable out of the motor and figure a way to get the solution into the cable and keep working the cable in and out as you do this. Then after you have screwed with it for a couple of hours you will probably wonder why you didn't just go ahead a order a cable.

Also a little food for thought. The cable is tight because it's rusty, rusty metal tends to break. If one of the strands breaks into and balls up inside it can lock the steering. Not a very fun experience if the boat is moving.

[Junebugman]

If its stiff chances are the previous owner didn't grease it much! You can try spraying where the rod comes out in front of motor with a penetrating oil pb blaster etc let it sit for a while and slowly work the wheel back and forth worst case scenario a new cables or cables could get spendy good luck

[bass crazy]

I found dried up  grease in the tube where the cable connects and  goes through the tube where the motor tilts. Disconnect the cable from the tiller,  lossesen nut at the tube and pull back, squirt PB blaster in the tube end.Llet it set and work the steering wheel back and forth moving the cable do not force. Also some heat from a blow dryer/ heat gun on the tube will soften the dried up grease inside. If not successful replace the cable.

[n8cas4]

Thanks.  How much do these cables usually go for?  Installation will probably be a pain too, huh

[gulfcaptain]

Not sure how the steering cable will run to replace pending wiring and everything, but if you can get a straight pull, I have had to replace throttle cables on a crewboat I worked on when they would break and that 100ft run would have been a pain but an easy trick we used was to get some shrink tube and connect the two cables. Sometimes would double the shrink tube then put a wrap of electric tape over the tubing and use the old cable to pull the new one all the way back to the engine room.  Not sure if that will work on a bassboat, but if you can it shouldn't take very long at all if it's just the steering cable and nothing ziptied or bundled with it.

[Junebugman]

Installation: have to pull the motor off transom along with cable wires etc your motor will require a dual steer cable 400 to 600.00 plus labor for installation try the "witches" brew above mentioned first maybe you'll get lucky heat will help but be careful!