Evinrude 150 steering problems. (newbie)

[gotime242]

Hey all,

Ive got an 98 Evinrude that has been getting harder and harder to steer after not using it for a while. I disconnected the link to the engine and the engine turns fine, so its in the steering cable for sure. Then i disconnected the large nut on the starboard side of the engine and the wheel now turns fine. The only thing NOT moving well is the pushrod inside that sticks out of the port side of the engine/pivot tube.

Now im at the point where i cant pull the cable/pushrod out and am not sure quite what to do. It seems the cable isnt technically broken anywhere so i dont know if i should replace it, but i cant get it out and its still stuck like hell. Does the engine have to be removed for that thing to come out / go in?

*Edit: I cant pull the damn steering rod out of the tilt tube...it looks like i will almost be needing to replace the tilt tube. I dont have a lift ring, is it possible to lift the engine without one?

Any tips are greatly appreciated, thanks!

[fitz73222]

Hey gotime242,

You have corrosion that is binding the steering piston in the tilt tube; quite common. You have the nut removed. Now you have to drive out the piston from the tilt tube bore. Use a brass hammer and drift to drive it out. Depending on your splashwell configuration you may not be able to drive the cable out enough to remove it without unbolting the engine and hanging it on a hoist to get enough clearance to completely remove it from the tilt tube. Many boats require that the steering cable be inserted in the tilt tube before you bolt the engine up. If you have an older Aquasport with an open transom or euro design you should be able to remove it with out pulling the engine. Once the cable is removed you need to clean the ID of the tilt tube with some sort of solvent or degreasing solution. Brake cleaner or WD-40 from the auto parts store works well. The best brush I've used is a 12 gage shotgun bore brush (Walmart or gun store) attached to a drill will clean the tilt tube bore without removing a lot of metal since the bore brush is made from brass. Clean the cable piston end using a scotchbrite scrubbing pad from the wifes kitchen sink with brake clean or WD-40. Dont put the pad back in the sink when your done! She will figure it out when the next cassorole she cooks has a unique flavor to it! Get some good marine grease and grease that piston like you mean it. Reinsert into the tilt tube, tighten the nut, install the link rod...Done. I strongly recommend you order a cable grease nut from Bobs Machine in Ruskin, FL. Its the best one I've used that wont blow the Oring when you grease the cable using a grease gun. It installs on the link rod side of the cable. There you go; this is a 4 beer job on the degree of difficulty scale. Send some pictures of what you have and we can walk through the engine removal process if needed.

[John Jones]

good advice Fitz.

 

[gotime242]

Thanks for the help! That was a great read.

I ended up picking up a new tilt tube...and that should go in soon. However as i took off the steering calbe nut (that hold cable to the tilt tube / starboard side) i noticed that it was cross threaded, and as i was backing it off it was making it worse and worse. I tried to work it on/off and try to salvage it but it ended up being a mess. Whats worse is that the steering cable seems ok now moves freely..etc...it was just the tilt tube.

Will i have to replace the entire steering cable just because that one nut is pressed on? Any way of avoiding the cost of that?

Thanks!

[fitz73222]

Unfortunately, there is no way around it. The manufacturing process for the cable does not allow the nut to be removed. It is an obvious safety concern. It would take a custom hollow threading tap to recut the threads with the nut still attached. The thread is 7/8-14. Since the nut is made of aluminum, someone probably over tightened it and wrecked the threads. I think you are stuck with getting a new cable. Make sure you get the correct lenght; most Teleflex cables have the lenght marked of the plastic portion of the cable.

[ace3]

You have corrosion that is binding the steering piston in the tilt tube; quite common. You have the nut removed. Now you have to drive out the piston from the tilt tube bore. Use a brass hammer and drift to drive it out.



Hey fitz, how do you drive out the piston from the tilt tube bore? There's a steel rod going into mine that's in the way of driving anything into the tilt tube. Also, how long of a cable do I get for a 22.2 CC?