Help: Sport Steering Stiffness

Try loosening the stuffing box around the top of the rudder shaft. Maybe it has become tighter than it needs to be while in storage because the packing expanded or melted and is sticky. When I was setting my steering back up I had to play with the stuffing box to find a good medium between water sealed and being easy to turn the wheel. If it is that stiff I would address this before running it much more so that you dont break the steering cable.

The steering assembly is pretty simple. Possible culprits include nuts on back of steering wheel too tight. Rudder packing too tight. Binding somewhere along the cable. Or lubrication.

Welcome to the site. Take some time and fill out your profile and at least your first name. We all get to know each other pretty well. Sometimes with these boats it takes a village!

Thanks guys, will do.

Troy

jbenbri wrote: Pete, Do the cables become un-stiff if used frequently after a lay up?

I really feel it's a age issue with the internal lube congealing and then aggravated with a lay up. Some have gone to the extent of using a length of hose with a grease fitting on one end slipped over the cable end and clamped. Then use it to purge the old grease out and replace it with new.

I'd take a look at the rudder and stuff in the back first. My boat sat up a few years before I bought it, the cable broke on a test drive and was replaced. The steering was still very stiff, but manageable. 100 hrs later while beached at an event the rudder got stuck in the mud, once we got it free the steering was magically lite. It has tightened up a bit and will be on the list of winter projects this year, but a little work is much less expensive than a new cable.

Before I'm attacked about beaching the boat, we will not do it there again this year. For some reason the Excel seems to stick the rudder very easily so we keep her away from the beach now.

Are they making these cables cheaper or they from China now?? I hear of so many of them being replaced on the newer boats.I still have the original one in mine,and no boat was as neglected as mine.

Gary S wrote: Are they making these cables cheaper or they from China now??

I suspect a clever combination of both... Counterfeit steering cables will be next.

jbenbri wrote: I expect to buy a new cable. I have already spent about 10,000 dimes over the last few months. If I could avoid another 2750 right now it would be quite convenient though.

You can cut out some of those dimes by getting a cable replacement from Fl. Inboards. (850) 215-1996

Tim

Good info guys.
I just joined while winterizing my 02 ski.
Steering is just a touch tight and I planned on greasing up the rudder packing area. We'll see how that works. I don't have any problems with water getting in and hope I haven't ruined a good thing.

Anyone have an idea on how to find a back seat bottom for an 02 closed bow?

Bob

Bump !!

Sorry to be annoying, but can anyone shed some light on my steering issue?

Cheers in advance.

Justin - Yes, '89 needs the OEM cable. If you open up the helm & add grease, be sure to use synthetic grease, as petroleum grease can soften the cable's inner liner. You can get synthetic grease at NAPA - use disc brake caliper grease.