2004 Sunsetter Lxi rudder

[tberrett]

I have a 2004 Sunsetter and the steering starting getting stiffer at the end of the season.  It was only noticeable when pulling a load (tube with lots of kids).  Now it seems to be stiff all the time and the boat had a slight vibration when pulling my son knee boarding yesterday.  

I want to grease the rudder to see if that will help.   Is that a simple grease fitting?   And can I access that through the floor behind the engine or do I have to remove the floor in the ski locker and remove gas tank?

Is there anything else I should check?  

Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

 

[oldjeep]

Chances are you need a new steering cable. But yes you can reach the zerks (2) by removing backseat and pulling the floor panel behind the engine.

Edited July 5, 2016 by oldjeep

[Woodski]

@tberrett:  Two items along with the rudder grease, and don't do more than a couple of pumps as too much grease will stiffen the rudder.  First, as you do the rudder check for sloppiness in the rudder bushings both side to side and vertically.  If vertical play, you can put a washer on the top just under the tiller and take out play there.  Second, a stiff cable can be loosened via adding some ATF between the sheath and cable, simply unhook cable at tiller end, slide rubber dust protector away, hold vertical and pour some ATF down and rotate wheel back and forth to work the fluid down the cable.