outboard steering shaft?

[islander55]

just wondering how i can fix my steering stube on my outboard, its super stiff, thought it was my steering cable but its not, so any help would be awsome
thank you

 

[sly_karma]

Did you already lube it? Most outboards have grease nipples on the steering tube. Keep working it back and forth with some fresh grease in there, it should work its way along the shaft.

 

[scott craven]

There is probably old solidified grease in the tube.
Heat it up with a torch slowly while someone keeps trying to move it.
Once the old grease melts pump the Zircs up with fresh grease.

 

[islander55]

ok thanks for the info

 

[Radarrick]

just to clarify, grease nipples on most outboards are for the tilting mechanism. The steering tube is separate and doesn't have grease nipples. I learned this from the school of tough knocks. I launched my boat only to find that the steering rod had seized inside the tube. I managed to paddle to the dock and make the repairs.

You have to remove the steering rod from the tube, then clean out and lubricate. The tube is regular steel and gets corroded. This and hardened grease cause stiffness with the steering.

Dangarmarine has a good video on this process:

 

[islander55]

total different steering then what im talking about but i figured out how to clean it
and yes there is a grease nipple on the leg meaning the steering shaft

 

[Radarrick]

I'm with you now. Hope it works better when you're done.