seized teleflex steering

Jon penrith · 19 November 2006, 12:22

Hi all, despite spraying copies quantities of wd40 in the tilt tube & shouting & swearing ,I am unable to get the end rod of the teleflex steering in or out of the tilt tube.I am a bit loathe to put a metal rod in the tube to use like a centre punch to belt this so it pushes the rod out, in case i close up the hole on the end or flatten the end wedging it in the tube.Apart from taking the tube out, can anyone recommend how to free up the rod of the steering.
Hope this makes sense.

Nos4r2 · 19 November 2006, 12:32

by tilt tube do you mean the tube through the outboard clamp?

I cleared mine by sticking a long piece of threaded bar through it and using it like a file then blasting the crap out with carb cleaner. It takes very little crap to cause a problem.

Jon penrith · 19 November 2006, 12:46

Yes thats right, the tube which goes through the outboard bracket.

Nos4r2 · 19 November 2006, 13:01

Can you turn the steering wheel?

Will the securing nut on the tilt tube come undone?

Downhilldai · 19 November 2006, 14:24

What's probably happened is the tilt tube has rusted when the end bar of the steering cable is poking out the other end. As you're retracting the steering cable, the end rod is pulling all the rust through with it. Try undoing the big nut which secures the steering cable to the tilt tube and turn the steering wheel to release the outer cable. you should then be able to clear the tube with an airline and spray some releasing fluid into the tilt tube, alongside the inner cable. Reconnect the big nut and try operating the steering. When you reach the end of its travel, due to rust blockage, give the end of the steering rod a knock with a long blunt-ended punch through the tilt tube. Try moving the steering wheel a bit more, give it another tap, etc. until it comes free. Don't worry about giving it a bit of a touch - the end of the rod shouldn't burr over, as it's tight in the tube.

Needless to say, when re-assembling, use plenty of grease - a search on this forum should tell you which type

ALANT · 19 November 2006, 19:13

Have you tried turning the wheel will someone puts a little force on the outboard. ie pushes it in the same direction. This worked with my one, could turn the engine when the wheel wouldn't budge it.

Jon penrith · 20 November 2006, 11:23

Engine Was Disconnected From The Rod With A Hole In It.i Then Hit This With The Hammer To Push The Rod Further Into The Tube.now I Cant Get The Rod Eith In Or Out.
Its Not Possible To Re Connect The Engine & Try To Turn The Engine By Force As The Hole On The End Of The Rod Is Now In The Tube, So The Only Way For It To Go Is Toward The Steering Cable Nut Which Has Been Undone.locking Nuts Are Also Undone & Tilt Tube Is Partially Out In The Direction Of The Steering Nut.

Confused!!!!

bedajim · 20 November 2006, 11:45

Hi

Can you post some pictures?

James

Jon penrith · 20 November 2006, 11:48

In Reply To Nos4r2's Question.i Was Unable To Turn The Steering.now I Have Undone The Steering Nut I Can Turn The Steering But The Inner Rod Moves In & Out Of The Tilt Tube When I Do.the Outer Sleeve Which Has The Hole In The End For Connecting To The Engine Steering Bracket Remains Unmoving Inside The Tube.

Pete7 · 20 November 2006, 13:51

John, don't mess about because now you have nothing to loose (the cable is probably toast now away). Take the whole tube out the engine and get some serious heat on it in a vice and using a drift give it a smack with something heavy. If it damages the mounting tube don't worry, A Yam one was £50 last time I bought one. Your local tractor place might have a press which could be an option.

Pete

Nos4r2 · 20 November 2006, 16:51

The other option is to close an old adjustable spanner up between the tilt tube and cable nut and then smack it hard with a lump hammer to drive the cable out. It won't do your steering much good though if you do it too hard.

Downhilldai · 20 November 2006, 18:04

Leave the tilt tube fixed to the outboard to hold it firmly and get a punch inside the tilt tube to give the end of the steering cable rod a good clatch. Don't be shy with the hammer.
If this doesn't work, try Pete7's approach

Mollers · 20 November 2006, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Leave the tilt tube fixed to the outboard to hold it firmly and get a punch inside the tilt tube to give the end of the steering cable rod a good clatch. Don't be shy with the hammer.
If this doesn't work, try Pete7's approach

Bung It! It's knackered. When they're that bad it's time to cut it loose.

Jon penrith · 21 November 2006, 17:34

Thanks Everyone.will Have A Good Go At It On Sat.will Let You Know How It Goes.

al40 · 22 November 2006, 19:54

Been there last year - exactly the same except my cable broke when the guy selling me the boat turned the wheel - it had been in the shed for a few years. :-)

I ended up cutting off the cable with an angle grinder just at the big brass nut so I could get the nut off then punched out the tube with a metal bar and big hammer and WD40. This also prepares the way a bit for the new cable.

Paul F · 22 November 2006, 21:44

We get our fair share of these, normally at start of season.
As quoted by Pete, dont mess about its either caught in corrosion or by banging have squashed hole in rod slightly and now gripping the side. Cut it off and do as pete sugested.
As you drive tilt tube out, what ever you use leave it in as it will stop engine from falling off of transom
Paul

Jon penrith · 24 November 2006, 11:09

SUCCESS!!!!! BRUTE FORCE & IGNORANCE TRIUMPH'S ONCE AGAIN.

LOTS OF WD40.BURLY MATE TO ASSIST.USED LARGE COACH BOLT AS CENTRE PUNCH.INITIALLY THE TILT TUBE WAS COMING OUT.THEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING ROD DECIDED TO BUDGE & OUT IT CAME.NEED TO FILED INSIDE TUBE NOW BEFORE PUTTING BACK TOGETHER & GETTING OUT ON THE WATER TO SPEAR SOME FISH....HURRAH!!!

dctucker · 24 November 2006, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon penrith

SUCCESS!!!!! BRUTE FORCE & IGNORANCE TRIUMPH'S ONCE AGAIN.

LOTS OF WD40.BURLY MATE TO ASSIST.USED LARGE COACH BOLT AS CENTRE PUNCH.INITIALLY THE TILT TUBE WAS COMING OUT.THEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING ROD DECIDED TO BUDGE & OUT IT CAME.NEED TO FILED INSIDE TUBE NOW BEFORE PUTTING BACK TOGETHER & GETTING OUT ON THE WATER TO SPEAR SOME FISH....HURRAH!!!

If you can't fix something with a hammer and duct tape, you probably need a bigger hammer

Brute force, ignorance and PB Blaster did the trick for me this past spring as well. Now I actually listen to the advice to turn the wheel lock-to-lock on a weekly basis, and I keep the cable well lubed at the outboard end as well.

Think I'll go outside, lube it and give the wheel a twirl right now!