Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Well got my steering fixed. Replaced the cable and put on a new steering wheel. Did the trick. Thanks all

Size has nothing to do with it, my boats bigger than yours and steers and handles well. You can try this and see if it helps, and it certainly can't make it worse. Go to the motor and loosen the steering linkage at the end of the cable. Now go to the other side of motor and loosen the packing nut that holds the cable in the motor pivot tube. You then want to pull the cable free of the pivot tube on the packing nut side. If the rod that comes out is crusty with dirt and dried up grease you have likely found the problem. But even if it comes out relatively clean doesn't mean the the rods movement isn't being impeded by dirt and gunk in the steering tube itself. I use a solvent and a shotgun cleaning rod for a thorough cleaning from time to time to keep the steering free and crisp. Once clean slather a bit of fresh grease on the rod and reinsert and reassemble and see if it's improved.

Bamby wrote:Size has nothing to do with it, my boats bigger than yours and steers and handles well. You can try this and see if it helps, and it certainly can't make it worse. Go to the motor and loosen the steering linkage at the end of the cable. Now go to the other side of motor and loosen the packing nut that holds the cable in the motor pivot tube. You then want to pull the cable free of the pivot tube on the packing nut side. If the rod that comes out is crusty with dirt and dried up grease you have likely found the problem. But even if it comes out relatively clean doesn't mean the the rods movement isn't being impeded by dirt and gunk in the steering tube itself. I use a solvent and a shotgun cleaning rod for a thorough cleaning from time to time to keep the steering free and crisp. Once clean slather a bit of fresh grease on the rod and reinsert and reassemble and see if it's improved.

Thanks, I did take the steering link loose and the cable moves freely and I cleaned the tube.

You really only have 4 areas that could be at fault:

Tiny steering wheel (no leverage)
Faulty system (helm or cable)
Gunked up steering tube
Gunked up pivot shaft on motor

I'm assuming you have checked and double checked to be sure there are no physical blockages any where. All of these areas are simple to isolate and test separately so if you're having that much trouble check them each thoroughly, should be an easy fix.

And for what it's worth the steering wheel most likely isn't an issue...but I did once see a guy with an 8" chain steering wheel on his Impala complain it took a lot of effort to steer the big beast

ToonGuy wrote:You really only have 4 areas that could be at fault:

Tiny steering wheel (no leverage)
Faulty system (helm or cable)
Gunked up steering tube
Gunked up pivot shaft on motor

I'm assuming you have checked and double checked to be sure there are no physical blockages any where. All of these areas are simple to isolate and test separately so if you're having that much trouble check them each thoroughly, should be an easy fix.

And for what it's worth the steering wheel most likely isn't an issue...but I did once see a guy with an 8" chain steering wheel on his Impala complain it took a lot of effort to steer the big beast

Well that narrows things down a lot. I have the stock Tracker steering wheel, we checked the engine pivot this last weekend as well as the cable and both were free as can be. There was a little play in the helm but not excessive so I'm thinking it has to be the steering tube. I'll check that this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

If you annually pull the tube from motor and lube it well the grease will keep moving every time you turn the wheel.