How to Hook Steering to My Outboard

The steering cable on your boat may travel a circuitous route from the helm to the outboard. As it makes it final approach to the engine, it takes a trip through the outboard's tilt tube. Part of the mounting bracket, the tilt tube is the hinge on which the motor moves upward or downward in the water. The tilt tube holds the cable sheath in place on the front of the engine. The end of the cable may be connected to the outboard by a link that's integral to the engine, a separate link rod or a bolt.

Things You'll Need

  • 90-weight lithium grease
  • Open-end wrench
  • Torque wrench
  • Thread locker
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Instructions

  1. Cable Steering

    • 1

      Find the tilt tube on the front of the outboard. The tilt tube runs parallel to the front of the outboard, along and just below the front of engine's top cover.

    • 2

      Grease the interior of the tilt tube with 90-weight lithium grease. This grease not only allows you to push the steering cable through the tilt tube, it protects the tilt tube against the corrosion that occurs when water, salt and air meet.

    • 3

      Remove the collar nut from the tilt tube and slide the steering cable through the nut. Push the steering cable end and sheath through the tilt tube. Pull the cable end to the steering cable connector on the outboard.

    • 4

      Secure the cable end to the motor, using an open-end wrench of the appropriate size. Tighten the connector to the torque indicated in the motor operator's guide, using a torque wrench.

    • 5

      Thread the collar nut onto the end of the tilt tube. Tighten the collar nut according to the torque specifications in the motor's operation guide, as torque varies between motor types.

    Hydraulic Steering

    • 6

      Smear a small amount of thread lock onto the threads of the hydraulic ram -- the hydraulic piston secured to the boat's transom. Thread the extension onto the end of the ram's piston. Tighten the extension with an adjustable wrench.

    • 7

      Grease the interior of the tilt tube. Push the extension through the tilt tube. Install the outboard's drag link to the end of the extension.

    • 8

      Thread the drag-link lock nuts onto the threaded end of the drag link that's protruding from the extension. Tighten the lock nut to the torque specifications for your outboard.

    • 9

      Mount the hydraulic ram according to the instructions for the hydraulic steering system.