Is there anything better than grease to use as lube for steering rod?

[Crocodile]

Hello All,
I was doing a check of the boat yesterday and the mechanical steering had frozen.
The only good news was that the rod was not all the way in, I always leave the motor at that setting.
After the usual hitting the rod in and out with a heavy hammer and blocks of wood and aluminium bars the steering is now free and as good as 21 year old mechanical steering gets.
Don't you love swinging a mechanics hammer at expensive boat parts?
My question is, is there anything better than marine grease to use as lubricant?
Conversion to hydraulic is out on $$$$ grounds.

[Dirtyfuzz]

I use lanotec heavy duty spray on trailer and all mechanical components!


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[stevej]

each trip i wipe the rod down and just inox it

[trilogy]

Try not to leave it longer than a week to turn the steering wheel, don’t let it seize up.

[Crunchy]

Never use grease as gums it up and likely lcause of the problem, try searching "tilt tube" on here, many discussions about it.....hydraulic fluid or inox better options

[gazza2006au]

Thanks Croc good thread mate as the steering on my smaller boat had almost seized too over winter

[Noelm]

Power steering fluid is OK as long as you keep using it, but, "proper" marine grease will be good, not waterproof or bearing grease, but the expensive marine grease, I have mentioned this many times now, but OMC Triple Guard is great, it never goes hard or washes off, don't get it on your clothes, it won't wash out!

[Fed]

Crocodile you need to clean out the tilt tube completely before lubing.
I use white lithium spray grease, also use it around the house and cars.

[scottar]

Ultimately, now it has started, without regular movement it will continue to be a problem. I used to fit an end cap over the output end of the rod with an O-ring to keep as much of the moisture out - and lubricant in, as was possible. It helped a bit but in periods of long term lay up, it would still freeze. Initially I would treat it with something that is a good penetrant - any of the usual suspects will work or if you have a bit laying around, ATF is great albeit messy. Then as mentioned a good marine grease like tripleguard by removing the cap and O-ring first and then fitting it afterwards to trap it in there. If you want to fix it once and for all - get rid of it and fit hydraulic steering - expensive but way better IMO.

[Steeler]

each trip i wipe the rod down and just lanox it

This. Lanox and Inox are my go to products for just about everything

[scottar]

Both good products - don't use Inox as much now though due to it not playing well with rubber - learnt that the hard way.

[TREVELLY]

They recommend the best grease to use in fishing reels for a saltwater environment is Molybdenum grease

[billfisher]

White lithium grease is what you are supposed to use.

[catshark]

white lithium grease for me too, have it on my toast as well.

[stevej]

i meant to say inox and have fixed my post

everything gets a coat of inox except rubber hoses

[Steeler]

Yes i should clarify to, I am a big fan of Candan Ind products and yes Lanox and Inox most certainly have there very own set of recommended uses and applications.

But anything from the Candan stable i am all in on and i find Bunnings as opposed to the auto spare parts stores less expensive for these items.

[ozscott]

I had good success with hydraulc fluid. I would clean out all the grease thoroughly by spraying cheap degreaser into cable and working it in and out and repeating many times, cleaning out sterring tube with degreaser and rag on a drill bit etc and then put on a felt seal on one end and use Dexron III or similiar in the tube. Makes a huge difference and doesnt seize up. I pulled and replaced fluid once every 2 years.

Cheers

[tunaticer]

I used to use auto trans fluid in my old one....does not form any gum when exposed to water or salt.
Why have they not introduced mid cable oil ports on morse cables yet?

[scottar]

I used to use auto trans fluid in my old one....does not form any gum when exposed to water or salt.
Why have they not introduced mid cable oil ports on morse cables yet?

There used to be an aftermarket oiling system but I haven't seen one in years. As for your question - same reason they still make trailers from RHS.

[littlejim]

My Evinrude did the 'freeze' bit. Found it was best to discover it at home rather than just off the launching ramp.
For a while I could fix it by using a screw jack flat to the side of the boat. Eventually this procedure didn't work.
Saw an article/video on the web that explained the cause was rust inside the tilt tube.
Followed the procedure in the video to scrape the rust from the inside of tilt tube and it now works like a dream.
Can't find the reference (old computer blew up) but if you can't find it with Google I'll see if I can find a way of digging it up.

[littlejim]

Found the site in the history file.
https://youtu.be/tfMn6bGfAKs