Steering Question

As long as I've had my 89 SN, I've alway's thought the steering was a little stiffer than it should be.
So this season I wanted to see if I could make it any smoother.
To date I have replaced the rudder packing, even added some marine grease and it moves easily by hand. I replaced the steering cabel, although the po had done this the season before I bought the boat, and yet no real noticable difference.
Then (just for the why not) tried loosening the steering wheel nuts which also did not help. The last thing I tried was to spray some grease into the helm where the cable goes. All to no avail. I'm stumped.
I thought I'd remove the boot which the end of the cable goes in when it comes out of the steering box just to see if there was dried greese or another obsticle causing the stiff steering effect I have, but haven't had time yet.
Having tried all of this, does anyone have any suggestions, thoughts, ideas. I'm out of them.
Sorry for the long post.

Danny

I started with the the two that are on the end of the steering wheel shaft.
Then, since I was there, the bolts that hold the housing for the cable ?pulley? When I say loosened, in effect mabey 1/2 a turn a piece which I promptly re-tightened after deciding it didn't help.

Thanks d

When you say that the rudder moves easily by hand, how easy do you mean? Tip of pinky finger easy?

Did you try turning the wheel with no cable installed? If not, Id give that a try to rule out the helm.

Danny, I said what I did because it sounded like you had looked at most everything else. I'm no expert; I was pointing you twards a problem I've found twice now. Since your's is the same under power or not...?!!?   Gotta be mechanical.

Do you have the thinck brass washer under the tiller arm? Not sure what else to have you look for except maybe a overly tight bend in the cable.

You don't want to hear this, but mine can be turned at any speed with any finger...or at least could be before I took it apart.

LOL

Hey Greg, thanks for the input. I don't know about the washer but I will certainly look. If mine is missing, wanna loan me yours?? (LOL) The tight bend in the cable could be possible. I pulled the old one out and pulled the new one in the same place, so it's highly possible the cable could have the same tight bend as the last one.
BTW, love the work your doing on your BFN. I check your "weeding" thread often and find it quite interesting. If I took on a project like that it would take me years to get to where you are now and I would forget what I was supposed to be doing!


Yeah Tim your right, troubleshooting! I always like to make sure I'm not missing something obvious.
I'm on it, hopefully in the next week or so.

Thanks again,
Danny

DU - I also rebuilt my helm. I used brake caliper grease because it was fully synthetic & won't attack the nylon liner inside the cable housing. Teleflex makes it clear not to mix greases - I am hoping mine is compatible.

FYI!