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I have a 97 SSN that the steering cable seems to stiffen up at about 3 years of use. I mainly use it in brackish water. 95-97 SSN cables are getting outrageuos on pricing, $280-$340 USD. I decided to change out my back rack to a '99+ so my replacement cables would be under $200. In fact, the new rack and cable was $40. less than the 95-97 cable by itself.
Anyway, I found a post a few days ago, I think it was on PN but I cant remember, about creating a tube that covers the entire end of the cable and filling it w/ ATF. Let it soak for a while and its supposed to free up the cable. Having already replaced the back rack and cable in my boat, I rigged my old cable up to the original backrack, strapped it to a saw horse, took a piece of 1" or 1-1/8" I.D. hose about 2 feet long and hoseclamped it around the steering cable nut. I put a plastic piece at the other end of the hose, barbed on one end threaded on the other for a cap. I then hung the end of the cable up near the ceiling in the garage (vertically) and filled the tube with ATF. I had to use vice grips on the shaft to turn it and it took everything I had to move the cable. I turned it in and out a couple times and then left it alone for about 2 hours. I went back out and turned it again and within a couple minutes I could turn it with my index finger. Ive had it soaking now about 4 days. Now I can turn it w/ my pinky and it feels like a brand new cable.
A friend has a 95 SSN and his cable is very tight. We are goingto put my old one in his on Friday and see how long it lasts. I will keep this updated as it would be nice to find that we can get a couple more years out of our cables. Especially at the rates new ones are going for.
Thanks for listening
Scott
Anyway, I found a post a few days ago, I think it was on PN but I cant remember, about creating a tube that covers the entire end of the cable and filling it w/ ATF. Let it soak for a while and its supposed to free up the cable. Having already replaced the back rack and cable in my boat, I rigged my old cable up to the original backrack, strapped it to a saw horse, took a piece of 1" or 1-1/8" I.D. hose about 2 feet long and hoseclamped it around the steering cable nut. I put a plastic piece at the other end of the hose, barbed on one end threaded on the other for a cap. I then hung the end of the cable up near the ceiling in the garage (vertically) and filled the tube with ATF. I had to use vice grips on the shaft to turn it and it took everything I had to move the cable. I turned it in and out a couple times and then left it alone for about 2 hours. I went back out and turned it again and within a couple minutes I could turn it with my index finger. Ive had it soaking now about 4 days. Now I can turn it w/ my pinky and it feels like a brand new cable.
A friend has a 95 SSN and his cable is very tight. We are goingto put my old one in his on Friday and see how long it lasts. I will keep this updated as it would be nice to find that we can get a couple more years out of our cables. Especially at the rates new ones are going for.
Thanks for listening
Scott