Issue with broken steering on 75Hp Mariner Outboard

[onemanorthree]

I went up to my boat after about 2 weeks to find the steering not working.
The steering wheel moves freely but it doesn't turn the engine.
The engine is not stuck, it also freely moves.

So I'm assuming the cable or turning arm of the eninge is broken. Im not sure what to take off to check.

You can see here that when the engine is running, the steerting arm justs about a good bit, I dont think it was like this before.

I unscrewed the nut in red, thinking I might see a little more, but it did nothing.
I was going to then unscrew the bolts in blue, but they thought the engine might fall into the water! So I stopped.

Any ideas what I need to be doing here and what might have gone wrong?

I also keep the engine trimmed up when not using it, is this the right way to store (Its in the water).

 

[James jameson]

On the back of the steering wheel where the cable goes in to the boss. Check the big nuts tight the one round the cable hok ding it to the boss
if it is unscrew it and see if turning the wheel winds the cable in and out hold the cable to try and stop it moving,

on the engine the big nut around the red cable holds the cable sheath in place. The bit to the right engine end (thin bar) is connected to the inside is the cable
the helm unit hasa round “disk” with teeth in the outside edge, the inner cable engages with these teeth, this then winds the inner cable in and out. At the engine end that pushes the right hand side bar in and out.
common problem is the ”disk” teeth wear not enganging with the cable

the cable could be broken engine end. Take the nut off the bar that links to the engine and see if you can pull the steering cable bar out of the middle of the engine. You shouldn’t be able to but if it’s broken then you will.

I would try engine end first as you have so much rattle movement when the engines running

 

[onemanorthree]

ok, I'll try that this weekend and have a look.

Do you think I need to do this with the boat out of the water?

 

[James jameson]

ok, I'll try that this weekend and have a look.

Do you think I need to do this with the boat out of the water?

No easy in water.

 

[stelican]

Whilst you have it stripped down it would be a good time to replace helm unit if slack.

 

[stelican]

deleted

 

[onemanorthree]

Whilst you have it stripped down it would be a good time to replace helm unit if slack.

I'm not sure what the helm unit it? I'm selling this boat in a few months, not sure how much I want to invest.

 

[James jameson]

I'm not sure what the helm unit it? I'm selling this boat in a few months, not sure how much I want to invest.

Helm unit is the steering wheel bit (not the wheel)
im still guessing the cables snapped inside at the engine end.

 

[stelican]

Helm unit is the steering wheel bit (not the wheel)
im still guessing the cables snapped inside at the engine end.

Yes I expect it has but might as well replace helm unit as the seem to wear.

 

[onemanorthree]

Quick update on this. The cable is a rack and pinion, not a rotary! I went to try take of off with th 4 nuts as pitioed below, but the




I also tried to take the bolts that hold the cable in off, the had the same issue, moved with the nut? Am I looking at taking the steering wheel and help off completely?




The 3rd issue was that the steering bar at the engine end didn’t come all the way out, got it halfway out then would go any further,
I think it’s because the cable is too long, the bar doesn’t seem to be able to push back cause it’s got nowhere to go!


I think I'll have to take the heml off at this point, I just cant get at those bolts properly!

 

[onemanorthree]

I'll give this another go!

Does anybody know what replacment cable I need for this engine/boat?
I can't see the serial number on the cable.

It’s a75HP Mariner & a fletcher 14" arrowflash. The cable it in atm is too long imo. causes stiffness.
I think I'll likely have to take the engine out to replace it, as there isn't enough room to get the steering end out!