hard to turn steering wheel

[minneman]

My brother just bought a mid 80's bayliner with 175 johnson, the steering is real hard to turn, any easy way to fix, or lube this? or is a new cable needed?

[Surface Tension]

There might be a grease fitting on the rack.(behind the steering wheel)

Also look for a knob to set the tension on the steering linkage back by outboard or possibly at the base of the steering wheel.

[jps]

Had a steering cable seize up a few years ago. This was on a OMC unit. Not sure what type you have. Pulled the cable out, cleaned and lubed it. That took care of the problem! jps

[Mr. Nailz]

Had kind of the same problem on our old Lund. Could grease the cable up and it would get better for a while. Then one day it just snapped, not so good while driving wide open. The cable had been fraying inside the sheath. Bought a new steering cable from Cabelas and it was the nicest steering boat you could imagine after that. Wasn't to expensive or hard to replace. Look at lubing it, but I would probabally look at replacing it.

[minneman]

how does one figure the length of the new cable if one is needed?

[Flipnripem]

measure from the center of the steering wheel in a 90 to the side of the boat. All the way back to the corner and over to the end of the steering cable on the motor. If you can get to the cable look for small print with the part number and length of cable.