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STEERING

D

DAVE

Well-known member
HELLO ALL HOPE BOATING IS GREAT FOR YA! I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM.. I AM SEARCHING FOR SOME 3/4" PILLOW BLOCK BUSHINGS FOR MY STEERING SHAFT HAVING TROUBLE LOCATING THEM ALL I CAN FIND IS THE 1" ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APP.
 
thanks for all the info i ended up buying them from diamondback the tubing that mine was made of was a strange size we had to cut off the cross rod and weld in a new one that fit the bushings
 
When I go back to work on monday, I will look in the bearing catalogue.

Red
 
Sorry I took so long.

The number for a 3/4" bore pillow block is RAK34
 
Why do the teleflex cable become so stiff after a while. No way to grease them that I know of, have seen several short duration fixes.

Is it just moisture getting in them after a period?

Is there any method of getting grease into them?

A friend of mine was wishing he had the old direct rod connections on his boat the other day. Those had problems but were easy to maintain and seldom stiffened up (Unless someone stood on them or blocked them with gear).
 
there is two way that I know of to grease up the cable 1 way is to hang the cable up and keep spraying PB blaster or take the cable off coil it up and soak it in oil for about a week that should free it up. They make a clamp for motor cycles to grease the cables, need to make a larger version for telaflex .
 
One answer might be to demand the inner cable be of stainless. Many are not.

I have seen steering cables break or kink while underway on kicker boats and airboats. Strong argument for bell crank steering assemblies.
 
Pat,

What type of cable are you using? Does it have the big nut on one end that has the 3/4 in pipe thread in it, like an outboard or I/O?

Jim
 
Cracker - No, it is the standard teleflex cable that all the major airboat builders use. Probably about 3/8 inch, there is a standard size and heavy duty, I know last time I bought one it was the heavy duty, just don't remember the exact size.
 
Pat,

To make a long story short the only way I have been able to make cables last is to fill them with grease when they are new. I have only done this with the marine cables which is easy. Once they get stiff, they are dead.

They either corrode inside or wear through the inner liner or both if not greased when new. I have also filled them with oil with some grease afterwards on the low end as a seal to keep the oil in.

Be aware that a grease gun can produce thousands of pounds of pressure and can damage the outer casing where it attaches to the end fittings, so you need to go very slow.

Jim
 
Dave, Tractor Supply. If you got one near you check it out. What they have is'nt exactly like you would get from an airboat shop but they have some stuff that you can adapt. Blocks, bearings, and keepers,ect. JIM
 
Yeah,
I wish I had one close by.
I went to one the other day, and saw all sorts of stuff that could be usefull, and that discount auto won't have.
 
Cracker,

How do you pump the grease into the cable assembly? Would you have to use a needle adapter on the grease gun?


Thanks,

Jeff
 
Big Daddy - Was looking around and sure enough there are a few companies that are selling Teleflex cable with stainless steel inside cable. I didn't even think about that, I would bet the last one I purchased was not.

But you are right, I have seen of few of the break as well. That end joint comes off and you can only turn one way with limited control. Makes a long trip back in. Seems like you have to argue for the bell crank type steering, they all want to install teleflex.

pat
 
basketcase0302,

You build an adapter that fits over the entire end of the cable and hook that to a grease gun. If there is a fitting on the end of the cable that you can screw on to or into use that. By the end of the cable, I mean the end fitting on the outer housing.

You could even use a high pressure hose of the right size and a hose clamp, then use the proper adapters down to a flex line on a grease gun. A hydraulic shop could probably make it for you.

Go slow with the grease gun because the cable will only accept grease slowly. It is possible to rupture the outer housing especially where it fits into the end fitting.

Steering cables came with grease fittings years ago.

Jim
 
I use motor oil. slip off the rubber weather seals, duct tape a long funnel at the joint where the rod end meets the cable and pour a small amount of oil in at a time into the funnel and work the cable ends back and forth untill it starts to loosen up. It takes a while to do and you might have to do both ends. It works but you need to take your cable off the boat. JIM
 
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