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  1. #1
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    Steering Cable Lube

    I noticed that my 3 year old dual cable steering seems to be getting a bit tight with age. I think I can make an adapter to go onto the end of the steering cable tubes on the motor so I could force a lube into it. I would drop the rack off at the helm and lube it till it came out there, clean up the mess and reassemble.
    The question is:

    What lubricant should I use?

    Thanks in advance.
    John
    To fish or not to fish? What a STUPID question.

  2. #2
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    Same problem last year. I was inspired by an article TREX posted here years ago and made my own steering cable luber. I put an air hose fitting on it and hooked it up to the compressor. I used tranny fluid. Figured with 120 PSI the tranny fluid would be spraying out the rack, it didn't. Took about a day for both cables at constant pressure. Worked like a charm. Year later the cables are just as free as when I did it.

    Glenn
    '88 CE Hydrostream Vision
    1978 Mercury 1750

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn View Post
    Same problem last year. I was inspired by an article TREX posted here years ago and made my own steering cable luber. I put an air hose fitting on it and hooked it up to the compressor. I used tranny fluid. Figured with 120 PSI the tranny fluid would be spraying out the rack, it didn't. Took about a day for both cables at constant pressure. Worked like a charm. Year later the cables are just as free as when I did it.

    Glenn
    I've been lubing the steering tubes with marine grease. Is that why the cables are stiffening up?

    Yer saying the lube should be tranny fluid, ie about 5 weight high quality oil?
    For the effort, I'd probably substitute alisyn 0 weight gear lube.

    John
    To fish or not to fish? What a STUPID question.

  4. #4
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    I was told not to use greese 'cause being as thick as grease is it could cause the system to hydaulic. It would also be real hard to push through the cables. I just used regular old Dexron/Mercon tranny fluid and nothing else. Worked good for me. You got to be patient, as I mentioned it takes a while to work it's way through all the way to the rack even at 120 PSI believe it or not. It was sort of a last ditch effort and I was prepared to buy new cables. However, it worked out great. If I recall TREX used some sort of weird mixture of eleven different herbs and spices in his mix

    Glenn
    '88 CE Hydrostream Vision
    1978 Mercury 1750

  5. #5
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    potion

    TREX used some sort of weird mixture of eleven different herbs and spices in his mix
    what do you expect... he's coonazz. bill mason did the same thing but he used seafoam. KROIL would work also. i would think that something that could penetrate easily and break up the grease would work best. i put grease in mine last year and the boat became almost undriveable. when the temps got down to 50 degrees i had enough. i replaced my whole steering system. if i ever have rideguide again i'll never put grease in another one
    Erik Kiser

  6. #6
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    '88 CE Hydrostream Vision
    1978 Mercury 1750

  7. #7
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    I have a customer that had a system on it that Bass Pro sold, not any more. The stuff that they had was like 80-90 gear oil. His steering is like 8 years old and turns like new. I have taken the cablese off and put 80-90, after seeing his sytem, on them while someone turns them. It seems like it forces it in the cable. It frees them up. I could see where tranny fluid would break down the old grease. Just what I have seen.....
    James Perry

  8. #8
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    Tranny Fluid

    Tranny Fluid has a high detergent content and would be great for freeing up the cables. But, it is my understanding that Tranny Fluid is a VERY POOR lubricator. <--
    Look fear in the eyes and laugh!
    If you're here to have a good time, enjoy yourself.
    If you're here to be a grammar whore, troll, or arrogant nit picker then please leave now!


    79' Allison GT-20
    V4 OMC

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jacob View Post
    Tranny Fluid has a high detergent content and would be great for freeing up the cables. But, it is my understanding that Tranny Fluid is a VERY POOR lubricator. <--
    Tranny fluid is about a 5 weight oil base. They have different lubricities depending on the type. Type A or dexron is a pretty good lubricant. F or 4 is purposefully less lubricative.

    I think I'll clean it out with SeaFoam, then force in 10W30 synthetic motor oil.

    Then I think I'll put on Davis lube nuts and maintain it with Davis Max-Lube.

    Whatcha thinque.
    John
    To fish or not to fish? What a STUPID question.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by j_martin View Post
    Tranny fluid is about a 5 weight oil base. They have different lubricities depending on the type. Type A or dexron is a pretty good lubricant. F or 4 is purposefully less lubricative.

    I think I'll clean it out with SeaFoam, then force in 10W30 synthetic motor oil.

    Then I think I'll put on Davis lube nuts and maintain it with Davis Max-Lube.

    Whatcha thinque.
    John
    That sounds like a damn good combo to me John. I have a set on my Vector I will be freeing up here pretty soon, let me know how it works out???
    Look fear in the eyes and laugh!
    If you're here to have a good time, enjoy yourself.
    If you're here to be a grammar whore, troll, or arrogant nit picker then please leave now!


    79' Allison GT-20
    V4 OMC

  11. #11
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    If you are going to make one of those lube tools make sure you get all the galvanizing off the pipe before you go welding it. fumes kinda burn the eyes and nose. but looks like its a great idea. might just have to make one myself.

  12. #12
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    Are you guys using the liquid sea foam or are you using the aerosol "deep creep"?
    Valero YT/2.5 200 XRi - 90 MPH (Sold)

  13. #13
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    Liquid, just pour 3 to 4 oz down the tube, and hook up to 100PSI.


    Quote Originally Posted by dinger View Post
    Are you guys using the liquid sea foam or are you using the aerosol "deep creep"?

  14. #14
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    I took my wife fishing this morning (another story) I was able to handle the boat by palming the steering wheel. A week ago it was a wrestling match.

    John
    To fish or not to fish? What a STUPID question.

  15. #15
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    An added note:
    The relatively new steering cables probably jammed up because I had not replaced the o-rings in the end of the tilt tube and front steering tube. That allowed any bird doo that landed on a steering rod to be pulled into the tube.

    It's done now.

    John
    To fish or not to fish? What a STUPID question.

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