Steering Siezed!

[R18628]

After being layed up over the winter I've now discovered that my steering is sized. It looks as though its the push rod that goes through the pivot tube on the outboard wont budge. I tried loosening the steering cable gland on the pivot tune and the gland moves when the steering is turned so I think the cable is ok. I also disconnected the push rod from the outboard and it swivels fine.
I've read a couple of other posts with similar problems and some of the remedies involve hitting the push rob with a rubber mallet or the like. Also trying penetrating oil.
Can anyone suggest what might be best?

[Nos4r2]

If you've got power trim, tilt the engine up and down while trying to turn the wheel.

[biffer]

get someone to put some pressure on the wheel and give the end of the cable where the steering arm connects a good wack with a large mallet

[Poly]

R18628,

Mine was stuck when I went to dust off the boat last weekend. I disconnected the tie bar between the end and of the "piston" bit and the engine. I put a large screw driver through this whole on the end of the "piston" - I removed the plastic nut/cap and oring then I used the screwdriver as a lever to rotate the piston whilst holding the large metal nut at the tilt tube in some big molegrips. A little effort freed it up which "broke the bond" of the dried up grease / small amount of rust. Extended the "piston"/arm fully, cleaned it up, regreased moved in / out lots, cleaned and regreased again before reassembling.

Took longer to type this than fix it.

Before doing this I had tried the "sharp tap" with a mallet approach - but it made no difference.

[R18628]

Thanks for the quick reply's. Plan to have a go at it tomorrow night so let you know what happens.

[walruz]

plus one with Polwart- I get this on a semi regular basis as the boat lives outdoors all the time.

Ian

[Downhilldai]

http://www.rib.net/forum/showpost.ph...24&postcount=8

[R18628]

Just a quick update to let you know that I managed to get the push rod freed off using a combination of all of the suggestions! Hammering with a rubber mallet, twisting, shouldering the outboard, etc, etc!!
Can anyone give any suggestions how to stop it happening again? Where does the rod gets its grease from, is it the same as the pivot tube? Also what grease would you recommend?

[Portholme]

had the same issue and fixed it in 30 mins on Monday. I cleaned out the inside of the tilt tube with a petrol soaked wrag and a piece of dowel as a push rod. There was a lot of dried up grease that came out. Also cleaned up both parts of the steering rod.

Grease nipple on the tilt tube does not lube the steering according to the expert I asked and I agree now I've stripped it down.

Steering now very light!!