Steering hard and then not...

[Aquadisiac]

2001 VLX Wakesetter had noticible resistance in steering. Cleaned cable end near rudder (dry black crap came off) with acetone and lubed with a light film of marine grease all around. Worked steering back and forth and seemed to get better. This weekend we used the boat and the steering improved big time? Steers easy without drag? Not sure if the cable is bad or if this may be a temp fix.

[bostonwater]

The steering on my 2003 lxi slowly got harder, so I did not notice the falloff in steering until it got very hard. I tried cleaning the end of the cable with no luck. I found a replacement cable on line and had very little problems installing. If it is starting to get harder to steer just get a new cable, sounds like you will need it sooner or later.

[TheHardWay]

2001 VLX Wakesetter had noticible resistance in steering. Cleaned cable end near rudder (dry black crap came off) with acetone and lubed with a light film of marine grease all around. Worked steering back and forth and seemed to get better. This weekend we used the boat and the steering improved big time? Steers easy without drag? Not sure if the cable is bad or if this may be a temp fix.

I'm subscribing to this thread. I purchased a 2003 23 XTI and the steering is stiff. Not sure if I need to go with a new cable, new stern connection assembly, or just try and clean/lube what I have. Hope someone can shed a little light.

[TheHardWay]

The steering on my 2003 lxi slowly got harder, so I did not notice the falloff in steering until it got very hard. I tried cleaning the end of the cable with no luck. I found a replacement cable on line and had very little problems installing. If it is starting to get harder to steer just get a new cable, sounds like you will need it sooner or later.

How hard was it to do your cable? If you did it yourself, did you have to pull up all the interior or are you able to fish it through everything?

[Aquadisiac]

The steering on my 2003 lxi slowly got harder, so I did not notice the falloff in steering until it got very hard. I tried cleaning the end of the cable with no luck. I found a replacement cable on line and had very little problems installing. If it is starting to get harder to steer just get a new cable, sounds like you will need it sooner or later.

Probably the case... may have pushed it out for a while but it sounds like a new cable will be the next fix.