Outboard steering cable maintenance

[Vronsky]

Dear All,
I'm having an argument with my boat dealer on the maintenance of the steering cable.
It's a Dometic/Seastar/Teleflex QuickConnect monocable, that goes into the tilttube of the outboard.
Seastar specifies this cable needs to be taken out of the tube twice per year to clean and re-grease.
Dealer claims that pulling it our for 10cm once every two years, and dispense grease in/on the 10cm is enough.

Reason for the 10cm is that the rod cannot be pulled out more because the clearance in the splashwell is too tight (without removing the OB).

Is Seastar exagerating with the 2x p/y taking out, cleaning & regreasing, and dealer's alternative method is not unreasonable ??

THANKS,
V.

 

[spannerman]

We do it every year during servicing.

 

[ontheplane]

Can it not be unclipped, slid out of the tilt tube and turned so it fully extends, then grease it.......?

That can't be that big a job surely?

 

[Vronsky]

The distance between the tilt tube and the splashwell is shorter than the length of the inserted rod, and the opening in the splashwell where the cable comes out (and continues to the tilt tube) is not aligned with the tilt tube. Because of this, the rod can only be pulled out for 10cm from the tube.
I guess the cable has been attached to the engine with the engine hanging loose from the transom during installation.
As a result, the rod has not been out, cleaned and regreased for 3 years since boat was delivered.
Seastar says that if this maintenance is not carried out 2x per year, the steering can lock up, so I'm a bit concerned.
Dealers' alternative maintanence method appears to me inadequate workmanship, but understandable because he'd have to dismount the >200kg engine otherwise each time...

 

[Vronsky]

We do it every year during servicing.

My engine is serviced by a different official Suzuki Dealer than the boat dealer.
Is this particular maintenance on the steering cable a responsibilty of the boat dealer, or the Suzuki dealer?
Boat came from the factory with the steering cable pre-installed, so not installed by the boat dealer.

Thanks!
V.

 

[spannerman]

I think its easier to say the responsibility lies with owner to make sure whoever does the service follows the service schedule, and if in doubt specify they want the cable lubed.

 

[gordmac]

I suspect it will only stick if it has been left for a while. I always move the steering before casting off to check as I have been caught out once finding stuck steering after setting off!
I take it the issue is the boat warranty? Otherwise they would just charge you for the extra work.

 

[Davy_S]

We changed a friends on a Mercury 30hp, it had gone solid with standing over the winter, the rod inside the tilt tube had rusted solid, not the bar but the tube, we had to saw it and hammer it off, 85 euro for a new cable, some of the tubes have a grease nipple fitted, if not, then fit one, the hire companies make a hole in the cable casing and squirt grafite grease in. if you do not maintain it you will eventually have to buy another.