Steering Locks Up

A pleasant new summer to all. Last season my steering seized up. Put me straight into a panic. By the time I pulled the throttle back it released. So it stuck for 2 secs. And by "locking up" I mean with no reasonable force would it move without risking breaking something in the column. When I returned home I cut the vent pipe hanging behind the tank thinking that it wasn't letting the rudder move. Next time out, all was fine. Time after that locked up when I tried to taxi away from the launch. Nothing after that because the season was over by then. Now I'm getting ready to launch for the first time this year and I have this issue on my hand. Does this sound like a cable issue or is this a rudder packing issue? Or thirdly..where the cable mounts to the stringer in the rear of the boat could this be screwed? Any thoughts or comments are welcome.

First time i was moving fairly straight, from ten o clock to two o clockish. Sencond time was at a full L or R as i was leaving the dock. Cable has never been replaced.

Check the steering helm underneath the dash. Mine sheered some teeth a few months ago and would lock up when broken teeth wedged into the gears.

Old cables usually get stiff... never seen one bind tight all of a sudden. Im with Otela- I'd bet on the helm having some chipped teeth.

and they shear teeth for no reason?...maybe a tight cable?

My cable still felt brand new when I replaced the helm, so I pretty much thought that it just sheered because it is a 24 year old boat and has made countless turns. I bought mine from nautique parts for 230 but they no longer have one listed so I could have bought the last one.

check SkiDIM

Did a bit of reading on the " big t " helm amd it says it uses the quick connect cable, are the replacement cables quick connect or is there an adapter for them?

YooperSully wrote: Did a bit of reading on the " big t " helm amd it says it uses the quick connect cable, are the replacement cables quick connect or is there an adapter for them?

the new cables are quick connect,when I bought mine about 1 1/2 years ago it came with a connector

I'm Posting some pictures just so people understand the difference in a 17.5' cable and a 18'. P.O. had put in a 18' steering cable and then set it to turn good to the right but not good to the left. Last year after I rebuilt the stringers I re-installed everything straight and center. Needless to say my boat didn't steer good at all. Install the proper cable and all is well now.



This first picture shows the difference on the rudder end of the cable


The second picture shows the difference in length of the cable when the rudder ends are lined up.


The Third Picture shows the difference in length when you line up the helm end at the mounting nut for the helm.


The fourth picture shows the difference in rudder movement between the two cables. The two pieces of tape (one left and one right of center) that are closest to center shows the rudder angle allowed with the non-factory 18' cable. The two pieces of tape to the outside (far left & far right) show the rudder angle allowed with the correct 17.5 cable.

As of the last 8 hours on the boat my steering hasn't shown any signs of tightness or locking up so I'd have to say the new cable solved my problem.

huh, and sacrifice all of that drag? Actually pretty nice not having two speedos showing two different speeds.

Cool you got it fixed   

Good explanation on the cables as well.