I have a question about the tilt / steering tube ( first off, I'm only assuming that this is the correct term for this piece of equipment ).

I have a '00 model Yamaha Vmax 150hp on my Skeeter and the tilt/steering tube has a grease zerk on it that has broken off. I have been trying to replace this with no luck. The new grease fittings I have bought are too big and I'm afraid of drilling out a bigger hole for the fear of going too deep and damaging my steering cables.

But after a little research, my question is, if I get this fixed, and get new grease in the tube, will that ease my steering tension?

Or do I use something like the product I found called the Cable Buddy to lube my steering cables?

I guess what I am looking for is solutions to my 2 problems. How to reinstall a new grease fitting and how to ease my steering tension.

Sorry if this is confusing.. I'm just as lost..

Thanks in advance!

On Mercury it's called a tilt tube. When we have stiff steering on a cable system we take the cable off at the motor and turn the steering wheel to determine if it's the helm/cable and move the motor back and forth by hand to see if it's the swivel /tiller arm on the motor. Isolate the stiff condition to the helm/cable or the motor. If it's on the motor and it's stiff when moved by hand then you should try greasing the tiller tube. Mercurys have grease zerts. If the steering wheel is hard to turn then take the cable off at the helm and try to move the wheel to identifi if the helm is bad. if the wheel turnd normally the it's the cable or the tilt tube. Regardless , with the cable out of the tilt tube you should clean the inside out. You can use carb cleaner and a drill with a brush on the end to scrub it out. I've used a 12 ga. barrel brush. Then lube it and reassemble. If still hard it's the cable. I have removed broken zerts with a ez out by hand. Most zerts are push in not threaded if I recall. good luck.

Thank you.

Question - What is the purpose of the tilt tube? Does the grease zert I have on it provide lubrication for the steering cables or does it provide lubrication for the tilt of my motor?

Tilt tube houses the cable ends and if grease is applied only the cable ends get the grease as far as they move thru the tilt tube. I've tried to lube cables end to end with poor results. Albeit more $ i find it cheaper in the long run to replace the cables in that you don't have to screw w/it as often. I think if you can afford hydrolic steering you should go for it. I know that if you do you will never look back...

The tiller tube/houseing is vertical and should have a zert on it. Appling grease here will free up the tiller inside the tube. If your problem is in the tiller tube the the power head has to come off and the motor mounts are removed so the tiller can be removed and new seals and bushing installed. Most certainly your prolem is simpler.Most common it's the cables and or the cables inside a dirty tilt tube.

Your power trim motor/pump is strong enough to move a binding tilt tube.

I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS FIRST. Anytime your working on a steering system It's critical that it's done with care and right for safty reasons. A TOTAL FAILURE can cause the boat to make a hard right turn at wot. Assuming, you have a right hand rotation gear case.

My next question is, do I have to remove my motor just to pull the cables out and clean the inside of the trim tube?

Sometimes if there is not enough room between the splash well and the motor you do have to hang the motor so you can swing it away for clearance to pull the cable out. You do not have to do any de rigging just pull the jack plate bolts or transom bolts and leave everything else attached .

I think Pender said it right about changing the cable.If I was going to this much trouble, I would go ahead and change the bad cable or cables.

Too bad neither one of y'all are around my area. I was going to see if y'all knew of a place locally (DFW area ) to pick up a set of cables. I am within reasonable distance of an Academy and Bass Pro Shops.

If you remove your cables and would like me to order some and ship them to you let me know. Or you could call my parts manager, Ingrid and give her the length and she will order them and ship to you. Please advise.

I've got the rear steering cable off but am having issues with the front cable.

As you see in the picture, The nut that holds the cable to the steering tube is confusing me. The steering tube also has 2 nuts on it that I cant quite figure out. How do I get the cable nut off without having the other 2 nuts spinning while I try to take the cable nut off? Or am I going about this wrong?



different angle

Anyone? I need help

if you can't hold it with the two nuts 'jammed' together,then hold pressure on the outside jam nut as you loosen the cable nut,THEN I would hold it with a pipe wrench, just pass the threads.

I'm not a Mechanic so this is just what I would do..

Well, I need new cables. Here lies the problem, They are $400 for new cables. I am just going to install hydraulic steering instead.

The baystar series is rated to 150 HP max. Will that work or do I need to go to the one that is rated for 300HP max?

I have a 150HP vmax.

The reason I ask is that there is a $200-$300 price difference

I thought the baystar also said for boats up to 60 or 65mph over that should have the pro system.

Dont quote me on that but I thought I read it somewhere in a catolog