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Steering Cable Nut does it turn or is it part of cable

T

Ted-2025

New member
I am trying to remove the steering cable from the tube in a 16’ Larson Citation inboard/outdrive (mercruser alpha). I have loosened the cable nut but as I try to remove it, the cable body twist with it and I would not like to destroy the cable until I have things (tube and outdrive) freed up to see what is not moving. Should not the cable nut turn separately from the cable? Is there a way to free the nut on the cable?

If anyone one can direct me to where I can find the original layout for this boat it would help as it appears to have been modified several times.
 
Are you holding the tube with a wrench (Fig d)?

Steering Ram.jpg
 
The nut is loosened from the tube and the tube is secure and not turning. The nut seams to be stuck to the cable and when turning the nut (tube is not rotating it is secured) the cable turns with the nut twisting the cable. I can not get the nut to turn without turning the cable even if I hold the cable crimp area with pair of pliers, Also note that the crimp area does not appear to have a grease fitting. No grease fitting on cable side of nut.

The pin that connects to the outboard arm is also frozen. Have removed the carter pin but can not rotate or remove pin. I assume repeated application of heat and krill oil after cooling will eventually loosen it.
 
Ted-2025 said:
The pin that connects to the outboard arm is also frozen. Have removed the carter pin but can not rotate or remove pin. I assume repeated application of heat and krill oil after cooling will eventually loosen it.
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ok, its seized and most likely will be replacing the cable.

Heat and oil is the way to go, I use PB Blaster but might just cut the cable
 
So do you mean heat and oil on the cable nut to cable connection or is this hopeless. Is there no way to free the cable nut from the cable so that it can turn without twisting the cable?
 
Ted-2025 said:
So do you mean heat and oil on the cable nut to cable connection or is this hopeless. Is there no way to free the cable nut from the cable so that it can turn without twisting the cable?
Click to expand...
Need to get the cable out of the power steering ram first. You said the end won't come out of the ram

The nut should spin freely, but even if it was doing it now, you still need to get the end out of the ram so penetrate can be used inside the cable

You won't be able to apply to much heat to the ram, but can do it on the cable end. Once the end comes out, then you can try and free the cable inside. Even if/when its free, I do not believe it will free up enough to reuse without a lot of steering slop

Could try using a small hammer and block of wood. Place wood next to nut and cable, then try some light tapping on the nut
 
AllDodge, thanks for your help. I have not made any progress because of a serious accident that kept me in a back brace for 3 months but am making good progress in healing and hope to eventually get back to that steering cable. maybe the lubricant I put in and around the cable nut has done something since January.
 
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