Cable steering System ( Photos Attached )

[Karnic]

Need some useful advise please on a steering cable system :
1: While inspecting the system noticed a tiny drip of oil. Photo attached blue circle. Is it normal ?some cable lube or something?. Never opened that part so i never lubed area.
2: Should i do some preventive maintenance and where? Like greasing the pinion or its better not to grease there?
3: Should i check the screws to see if they are torqued enough ?
4: What is that white pipe for and what is it exactly? Touching it ( white pipe ) seems it have very few slack. Normal?

Thanks for your help.
My questions may seem odd for you but im willing to learn and do preventive maintenance myself. View attachment 61710View attachment 61711View attachment 61712

 

[omega2]

iirc the pipe you refer to is to accept the tail of the cable, i.e the interior is a spiral, and inside the box is a worm drive, as the helm is turned then the worm drive collects the spiral cable and pulls/pushes the tiller. The oil you see is working along the inside of the outer cover and keeping the spiral cable lubricated. Just wipe the oil off and keep an eye on it. I trust your steering is working as it should?

 

[jfm]

Nothing to worry about. This is low tech stuff - which is good. The insides of the silver box on a new boat like yours will have plenty of grease and you wont need to touch it for years. A tiny drop like that is nothing. The tube catches the tail end as omega says - tube is empty on ne lock and full 9of cable) on the other lock.

The main thing to maintain is the other end, at the engine. This gets seawater and weather. It's worth spinning off the nut on the engine's tilt tube and keeping the whole lot greased. Once a year is normally fine.

You'll also find that the stamped/bent plate that the die cast box hangs onto the dashboard with, centre of pic 3 of 3, is mild steel and will rust. No big deal - wire brush and paint it every few years. Looks brand spanking new right now but wont in 3 years. The die cast part itself wont rust. No worries

 

[Karnic]

iirc the pipe you refer to is to accept the tail of the cable, i.e the interior is a spiral, and inside the box is a worm drive, as the helm is turned then the worm drive collects the spiral cable and pulls/pushes the tiller. The oil you see is working along the inside of the outer cover and keeping the spiral cable lubricated. Just wipe the oil off and keep an eye on it. I trust your steering is working as it should?

yes working as it should. Thanks a lot for your help and info.

 

[Momac]

If concerned about potential future corrosion on bright metal parts I suggest a light coating of Waxoyl applied with a small paintbrush would help .

 

[Karnic]

iirc the pipe you refer to is to accept the tail of the cable, i.e the interior is a spiral, and inside the box is a worm drive, as the helm is turned then the worm drive collects the spiral cable and pulls/pushes the tiller. The oil you see is working along the inside of the outer cover and keeping the spiral cable lubricated. Just wipe the oil off and keep an eye on it. I trust your steering is working as it should?

Nothing to worry about. This is low tech stuff - which is good. The insides of the silver box on a new boat like yours will have plenty of grease and you wont need to touch it for years. A tiny drop like that is nothing. The tube catches the tail end as omega says - tube is empty on ne lock and full 9of cable) on the other lock.

The main thing to maintain is the other end, at the engine. This gets seawater and weather. It's worth spinning off the nut on the engine's tilt tube and keeping the whole lot greased. Once a year is normally fine.

You'll also find that the stamped/bent plate that the die cast box hangs onto the dashboard with, centre of pic 3 of 3, is mild steel and will rust. No big deal - wire brush and paint it every few years. Looks brand spanking new right now but wont in 3 years. The die cast part itself wont rust. No worries

Thanks a lot for your very valuable info. Appreciate. Regarding torquing of bolts and screws ( the ones shown on pics) should i check if they are tight or not ? seem they are tight but not sure if i should overtight them. Thanks again.