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