'02 xstar steering cable
 

Hi,
The steering wheel is almost completely blocked, it only turns a quarter turn to the right and the same to the left.
It just seems I have to replace the steering cable. Does Anyone know where the greasing points are located in the '02 xstar?
I would like to try to grease the cable first and then replace it if absolutely necessary.
Can anyone suggest the steps to replace the steering cable?

Thanks

Luca

It needs to be replaced. It is worn out. Thats just how it goes. Grease won't fix it.

Replace it.

unbolt it at each end and then duct tape the new one to the old one and pull the old out while the new goes in. bolt it back up at the ends and you will have like new easy steering.

Happy Easter silly wabbit

tying a rope to one end and then pulling it out works too. Then tie off the new one and pull it through. Get a friend to help as it helps to push/pull

there's a DIY on this- I've done it and it's a total pain, but doable. mine ran under the gas tank- I now have it routed over the tank, but as suggested- tie a rope to one end and pull it through so you can attach the now cable and pull it through- Grease definitely won't do it and in fact there are no fittings on the cable to add grease- the only zirc is on the rudder.

OK, I will replace it.
It seems rather difficult to gain access to the cable where it connects to the rudder. It is just under the engine.
Perhaps removing the side panels of the engine compartment could help.
Any advice?

Thanks
Luca

I would not call it a "total pain". Is it fun?........no. Is it ungodly?.........no. Spend some time changing a starter on a merc dd and it seems like a cake walk. It might have taken me 30 min to change mine. Granted mine is a dd and the rutter connection is easier to get to (I imagine) but this isn't a repair to be scared of.

those early x stars are more of a pain than other boats, i've never had one that you could just pull out, wedged under the gas tank, and the routing up to the helm is tight. If you pull the center section of floor you can work it through the tight areas

You definitely need to remove the side panels in the engine compartment to get access.

You might need a really large open ended wrench too- I think I had to buy an 11/4" open end to get the cable unscrewed from the drive bar. And yes it was a total pain- especially since mine went under the gas tank, and he tank was FULL ( oops) when I tried to get the cable out. a bolt cutters helped me solve that problem- the cable is made from stainless hardened steel and was very hard to cut.

The helm is tight but once you get it fed through if you push/pull from the helm back its easier then vice versa. I don't know why but I've done it on a few mc's and just has seemed to work easier for me

i have done 3 of them on the exact boat. ITs somewhat of a pain to get to it at the rudder but fishing it through is simple when you pull the floor. It gets a little tight as it comes up the floor to the driver's console, but still manageable. It's really straight forward and not that hard.

Greasing it will do nothing That is only for the rudder. The cable needs to be replaced. Checkout skidim.com While you have your cable disconnected and are replacing it, it would alos be a good time to drop the rudder and regrease the shaft and box back there.

I found http://www.marinepartssource.com to be cheaper that skidim