Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

[Jimhunter]

My steering is getting tight on my 98 Sport Nautique.

How can I make it easier to turn the steering wheel and boat?

I appreciate your help,
Jim

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

I suspect you are due for a new cable. Do a search, plenty of guys on here have done them themselves.

[Jimhunter]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

A friend of mine did his own. From his brief description, it sounded like a BIG project.

Thanks, I will do the search.

J

[DanielC]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

You probably need a new cable. Disconnect the cable at the the Pittman arm on the rudder, and see if that frees up the cable.
Mark where everything is clamped in the boat.
If the steering is still stiff, take apart the tube where the cable telescopes into itself. Clean it out, and relube it with fresh grease, and see if the cable frees up any.
While you are there, might as well take the rudder out of the rudder port, and clean and lube it.
Try to lube everything you can reach, before you decide to replace the steering cable. A new cable might not be needed, and even if it is, having the rudder freshly lubed will help it turn easier.
I use a grease from Mercury Marine, a "2-4-C" grease, you can get it in a 10 oz tube.

[8122pbrainard]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

If you do end up needing a cable, do get it through Correct Craft. It's a special length and throw that you won't find in a generic cable. BTW, it's not that bad of a job. Just use the old cable to pull in the new. Some haven't and then they end up having problem fishing in the new cable!

[TRDon]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

mine took me about an hour. The longest part was taking apart the kick panel, the doghouse out, the back floor panel and the seat out. The wrenching was the easiest part.

[Jimhunter]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

These are some great tips and encouragement. Glad to hear that it may not be as bad as I fear. I'll need to search this site to get familiar with the process and even to find out how to get to the rudder, the kick panel, doghouse and other items.

Thanks for your help,
Jim

[TRDon]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

the doghouse is the engine box, I just took that off. The kick panel is in fromt of where the driver sits, usually secured with 4 screws. Just take that out for easier access to pulling. Attach a rope to the steering side end and have someone help you pull it back through. I tied a couple of half hitch knots to the head to keep the head small as it was feeding through and taped up the whole thing with duct tape Pulled almost right through. Had to ram it a little at the end to come through the floor :P

[Jimhunter]

RE: Steering is getting tight on 98 Sport Nautique

Thanks,
Jim

[BigC]

I have a 98 Air Nautique. It looks like in order to get to the rudder (to disconnect the cable) you have to remove the two ballast tanks and in order to remove the ballast tanks, you have to remove the gas tank.

Has anyone had any experience changing the cable/ servicing the rudder on a Air with the hard plastic ballast tanks installed?

[EchoLodge]

I have an 01 Air / Sport. Anyone out there replace the cable on one. Going to try to do it this weekend by myself. Pittman arm on the rudder... How do I gain access? Can I get to it through the trunk or do I have to take the seat out or mess with the gas tank or ballast tanks? Thanks!