Hydraulic Steering Seized...won't budge!

C

CatyMae n Steve

New member
Well, we got word from the dealer yesterday that the new CatyMae's in final prep area at the factory now (should be delivered to the dealer next week), and would I bring the "other" CatyMae in to them to get ready to switch over all the stuff next week....we always put the engines down when storing it under the cover, and tilt it to one side so we can get it in as far as possible. We hooked her up to pull her around to put all the cushions and stuff back in, and the 90 won't budge. We had a seal blown out on the hydraulic steering a couple months after we got the boat...now it's all rusty where the fitting sits on the bar -- Steve's thinking the bar is pitted or something and water's in there and it's all rusted again...but this time, it's stuck good n tight. That shouldn't happen after sitting for just under 3 months, should it? I'm going to have to haul it to the dealer's with the motors down unless someone can tell me a magic way to get it turned so I can tilt it up and not run over the kicker. Gosh, if we'd known it was going to seize up, we'd have turned it the other way! :roll:

On edit...would someone kindly remove Murphy and his laws from our boating life?
 
The only thing I can think off is to spray a lot of w-d 40 in there and see if that brakes it loose. what a bummer. you may want to try and move the engine by hand and not witht he wheel, but I am just quessing not being there.
 
BayStar steering? Pretty good chance it is the bar that slides thru the tilt tube that is stuck. Just like happens with cable steering. If so, you might be able to pop it loose by having Steve jostle the motor back and forth while you do the same with the steering wheel. That's how I unstick the mechanical steering. You can unhook the drag link (I think) and find out if it's the steering system or the sliding bar. If it is the hydraulic system, you should be able to turn the motor by hand with the drag link unhooked and put it where you want it. Or, tow with it down. Just be careful of the turn and drop going into Sportcraft.
 
No luck WD'n and pushin and pullin....but we got it up far enough so I don't think it'll hit when I pull it down into Sportcraft...thanks Mike...that coulda been a disaster fersher. I don't know what needs to be done, but that appears to be a problem that really needs a long term remedy, not one that'll only last a month...thought that stuff was stainless! The fitting's rusted right onto the shaft, so my guess is that it ain't!
 
The problem with steering seizing up has been discussed a lot before does have a long term solution - frequent use and lubrication. While other "technical" fixes are certainly possible, IMHO this one falls into the regular and expected maintenance category. That is, I and others have just gotten used to dealing with this one as maintenance problem that's part of the necessary crap that's required to keep the boat useable. If you find a better solution though, I (and I'm sure many others) would LOVE to hear it.
 
I have never lubed my hydraulic steering - what do I lube and where? Can't I assume this is something that C-Dory does when I bring it in every 100 hours? Would that be frequent enough?


rogerbum":1fmtkm14 said:
The problem with steering seizing up has been discussed a lot before does have a long term solution - frequent use and lubrication. While other "technical" fixes are certainly possible, IMHO this one falls into the regular and expected maintenance category. That is, I and others have just gotten used to dealing with this one as maintenance problem that's part of the necessary crap that's required to keep the boat useable. If you find a better solution though, I (and I'm sure many others) would LOVE to hear it.
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No luck WD'n and pushin and pullin....
Click to expand...

Oops - I forgot the most important part. Before you had Steve do the pushin' and pullin' you should have stratecigally placed some Jelly Bellies in a spot the was unaccessible until the motor turned. Then he'd of told you to shut up and steer and the motor would have moved.

Sound like you're good to go -- I imagine your new hull will come with a new steering system?
 
Pat,

You're tell me there's no grease zerks back there on the steering rods connected to the motor? Those should be hit with a grease gun every now and then. The factory probably does hit those on the 100 hour service but I don't know for sure. With the frequency that YOU use your boat, every 100 hours of engine clock time is probably often enough. For others, maybe not.
 
TyBoo":27qcpwkb said:
Sound like you're good to go -- I imagine your new hull will come with a new steering system?
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I dunno...but I guess it would...will see next week I HOPE!!! :lol: This non-fishing life is killin me! :cry I see a couple fish've been caught at Cathlamet....is it time to go yet????!!! I've tied up more mooching rigs than I have storage for...tied up sturgeon hooks...bought plugs and switched out bitty trebles for nice sturdy siwash....I've run out of money to buy more rods and reels (finally broke down and got a fly rod and reel to try for some salmon) -- My heaviest fly rod before was 6 wt....not sturdy 'nuff for a nice springer! Tired of my whining? hehe -- offer Steve your sympathies next time ya see 'im :)
 
Steve and Caty,
I had the same problem with my 16' and the teleflex steering but have not experienced the problem with the 22' hydraulic steering. With the 16' I worked the steering wheel and then had some one else reef on the engine to free it......after that it was WD 40 and once a week I'd go out and turn the steering wheel and then never had problems. (I'd always greased the zerks frequently even before the problem presented itself).
On the 22' I also grease the zerks each time after the boat is used. Out of habit from having the problem with the 16', I go out to the shop at least once a week and sit in the helm seat and make motor noises and turn the wheel. :wink
 
The problem with the frozen steering, especially on Hondas, is caused by corrosion in the tilt-tube. This tube is made from carbon steel and is not stainless. I have owned three different Hondas and all had the same problem. At every boat show I ask the Honda reps why they don't spend $10 more and put a SS tilt tube in their motors? Never get any answer that makes sense to me. The zerks near the tilt tube do not put grease in the tilt tube. The only way to lube this area is to disconnect the steering, pull the ram out, clean the tube, relube and reassemble. A real PITA on most boats.
 
CAVU":fmi5r5ku said:
The problem with the frozen steering, especially on Hondas, is caused by corrosion in the tilt-tube. This tube is made from carbon steel and is not stainless. I have owned three different Hondas and all had the same problem. At every boat show I ask the Honda reps why they don't spend $10 more and put a SS tilt tube in their motors? Never get any answer that makes sense to me. The zerks near the tilt tube do not put grease in the tilt tube. The only way to lube this area is to disconnect the steering, pull the ram out, clean the tube, relube and reassemble. A real PITA on most boats.
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I'm thinkin you're zactly right...here's a pic of the lil devil
modules.php


ok, it's in the album, last page
 
Pat Anderson said:
I have never lubed my hydraulic steering - what do I lube and where? Can't I assume this is something that C-Dory does when I bring it in every 100 hours? Would that be frequent enough?
I'm going to reveal a trade secret...there are only two items necessary to fix everything...duct tape and lubricant.

If it moves and it isn't suppossed to use duct tape...if it doesn't move and it's suppossed to use lubricant.

The frozen tilt tube problem is not unique to Honda engines; I've had to pull just about one of every type of motor out there at one time or another for a repower and the problem is pretty universal. Stainless components in and of themselves won't necessarily solve the problem (although they sure wouldn't hurt) since many types of stainless (especially the alloys that are malleable enough to form tubes) rust. In every case where we've experienced frozen cables it's been the result of rust in the tilt tube and/or water wicking up the stainless inner core of the steering cable and "freezing" the core inside the outer sheath (usually happens right at the turn of the cable at the transom).

The zerk fittings on the tilt tubes of outboards lubricate the space between the inner tilt tube (the one the steering cable goes through) and the outer tube in the swivel housing (the component that tilts up and down and on which the engine pivots side-to-side) to keep the tilt and/or trim working and doesn't have anything to do with the steering cable inside the inner tilt tube. The solution is to pull the steering cable out the starboard side before winter layup and clean and lubricate the steering cable.

[I've had this post on my computer since first this morning...hope it makes sense after taking all day to hit the submit button! :shock: ]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Pat Anderson":1ivib9b2 said:
I have never lubed my hydraulic steering - what do I lube and where? Can't I assume this is something that C-Dory does when I bring it in every 100 hours? Would that be frequent enough?
Click to expand...

I'm going to reveal a trade secret...there are only two items necessary to fix everything...duct tape and lubricant.

If it moves and it isn't suppossed to use duct tape...if it doesn't move and it's suppossed to use lubricant.

The frozen tilt tube problem is not unique to Honda engines; I've had to pull just about one of every type of motor out there at one time or another for a repower and the problem is pretty universal. Stainless components in and of themselves won't necessarily solve the problem (although they sure wouldn't hurt) since many types of stainless (especially the alloys that are malleable enough to form tubes) rust. In every case where we've experienced frozen cables it's been the result of rust in the tilt tube and/or water wicking up the stainless inner core of the steering cable and "freezing" the core inside the outer sheath (usually happens right at the turn of the cable at the transom).

The zerk fittings on the tilt tubes of outboards lubricate the space between the inner tilt tube (the one the steering cable goes through) and the outer tube in the swivel housing (the component that tilts up and down and on which the engine pivots side-to-side) to keep the tilt and/or trim working and doesn't have anything to do with the steering cable inside the inner tilt tube. The solution is to pull the steering cable out the starboard side before winter layup and clean and lubricate the steering cable.

[I've had this post on my computer since first thing this morning...hope it makes sense after taking all day to hit the submit button! :shock: ]
 
CatyMae n Steve - if you are using a MS Windows based computer read the following for help in pasting a photo in your post.

The problem is you are trying to use a web-page address as a photo.
This is the address of the web page your photo is on.
Code: 
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=CatyMae&id=P3200039&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
This is the address of your photo
Code: 
http://www.c-brats.com/albums/CatyMae/P3200039.sized.jpg
To get the address of your photo, make sure you have the page open with the photo on it.
Then click on the photo with your right mouse button.
A menu will pop-up looking like this
property.jpg

Click on Properties and another window will pop-up looking like this
copy.jpg

Move the mouse cursor just to the left side of the h in http//
Click on it and hold the button down then drag it to the end of the address. Again in this case to the right side of the p in .jpg
The whole address should be highlighted. Now click on the address with your right mouse button.
Another menu will pop-up, now click on copy.
Now right click in your message where you want the image, then click on Paste
Now highlight the address you just pasted and click on the Img button as shown below.
image.jpg

To see if everything is how you want it, you can click on Preview to view your Post before submitting it.
 
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