97 speedster steering cable

[Georgejetsom]

always enjoy the forum, need help re: steering cable on speedster siezed and cant get the darn thing out, i followed the steps in the manual but the large nut where the cable comes out of the transom just spins with some spring tension, feels like the inner cable is spinnong with the nut. anyway if someones got the answer please let me know thanks

 

[kustomkarl]

It sounds like the nut is frozen on the threads. It has to come off. A good thread loosing spray I use is PB Blaster. Go to an auto store and buy some. It costs like $4.00a can. Spray it on let it sit for say 1/2 hr., try it, spray it again. It should come loose with repeated applications if necessary. If it doesn't or your Patience wear thin cut it off. All the parts you need should be with the new cable. Just check before you destroy the old one. Let us know how you make out.

Karl

 

[sandshark]

I just passed this hurdle a couple weekends ago on my 98 Speedster. Steering was VERY tight, like "make a muscle to move the wheel" tight.

My "Bad Cable" was actually a snowball effect of several tight/dry/corroded fittings.

The large 7/8" nut @ the transom will carry a lot of corrosion on the inside. Mine was really a mess. Wire wheel and lube. I used some heavy grease inside when I reinstalled it to lock water out.

PB Blaster works well if it is locked up, as you mentioned. (and on Flame arrestor plate bolts... but that's a different story...) :ack: Steering cable assembly is all SAE as opposed to metric, btw.

First take apart EVERYTHING from the transom on back to the nozzles. The test is, when it is all unhooked, is the steering lighter? Mine was immediately better so I knew I was onto something.

The fix for me was to simply clean, polish, and lube the heck out of every single point in the steering assembly from the transom on back, and to get some lube into the terminal end of the cable by spraying while turning the steering hard over from side to side repeatedly. While I was at it I wire wheeled and reshot my steering nozzles as they were mostly corroded with a couple patches of paint left here and there. Make sure to use some loctite blue on the steering nozzle bolts when you reinstall them, if you do this.

My steering is now 95% of as new if I had to rate it. My 8 yr. old daughter can steer from hard over to hard over no problem.

 

[kustomkarl]

Good advice Marc...unless your 8yr old has large forearms too.:ack:

 

[sandshark]

Good advice Marc...unless your 8yr old has large forearms too.:ack:

Nope.
Like most 8 yr. old girls in America, spinach is not on her menu. :ack:

And BTW, I appreciate the answers I have gotten to my own issues, so if I can answer something within my (for the moment) limited SeaDoo experience, I feel that is only fair. atriot: