TOPIC: Dorsett ease-o-matic steering

Does anyone have infomation on the ease-o-matic steering? my steering cable is stuck after sitting for so long. I would like the do and don't before i tear into it .Also is there any digrans anywhere? Where can i get a replacement? Any help would be appreciated. thanks the Madbohunk

Is it a single cable type thing? They get rusty if not taken care of. Sometimes a mix of auto transmission fluid and some fuel oil/diesel will soften it up or a spray can of PB Blaster.

I second that:

Homemade Penetrating Oil

For All of you Mechanic's and Self doer’s out there.
Penetrating Oil - interesting
This was in one of the Military Vehicle Club newsletters

Here is an interesting finding on Penetrating Oils
Recently “Machinist Workshop Magazine” did a test on penetrating oils. Using nuts and
bolts that they ‘scientifically rusted’ to a uniform degree by soaking in salt water, they then
tested the break-out torque required to loosen the nuts. They treated the nuts with a variety
of penetrants and measured the torque required to loosen them.
This is what they came up with:
Nothing: 516 lbs
WD-40: 238 lbs;
PB Blaster: 214 lbs;
Liquid Wrench: 127 lbs,
Kano Kroil: 106 lbs
(ATF)/Acetone mix (50/50): 50 lbs.

This last “shop brew” of 50% automatic transmission fluid and 50% acetone appears to beat
out the commercially prepared products costing far more.

Chuck. THats cool! Thanks for sharing my buddy has a "field find" 36 Chevy pickup he is working on. It looks like a 50 Gal barrel of ATF is what he needs.

Back on topic.
Mine says Ride Guide on the steering wheel. Is this what your looks like?

Mine locked up after I first started running it in the water and then let it sit for a couple weeks. (Very embarrassing at the launch ramp, the boat fired right up but I couldn't steer the motor. Epic Fail!)



I needed to disconnect the steering ram from the motor and the bracket on the transom. Then I could get it vertical so I soaked it with WD40 letting it run down the ram. After it sat a little while I was able to slightly move the steering wheel. I had my wife work the wheel back and forth with light force while I continued to soak the ram and eventually it released. Now every time I close up I WD40 the ram and turn it fully both ways several time to distribute the lubricant and (hopefully) displace any residue water.

Also when I took it apart, I found the ram has a zirc fitting (on the ram hidden inside the boat). You can use a grease gun on the fitting to push grease into the ram.

Also if you have the same steering system, as general maintenance I took my steering wheel apart to lube the gears and get the wheel on center. But check the ram first if that doesn't work let us know and I see if I can help you under the dash.

I found that on line. A friend of mine said he mixes ATF and brake fluid.
But never told me the propotions.... till I found the recipe on line.
I just did a copy/paste

thanks for all the info on the steering i will try all the methods , yes my steering is like yours ,so i will start the soaking process. i did buy a parts boat for this project, she doesn't float but has lots of goodies on it including another complete steering system with the steering wheel (also froze up) . i was very lucky as it was in a junk yard ready to be crushed, also it has the original glass windshield in perfect shape, and a 75 hp evinrude that wants to start, trailer in good shape also. we drug it 90 miles home. thanks again to everyone for all the help

Good luck with your build. You will find these boats are a lot of fun and get lots of attention on the water. Enjoy!

Shacomm... fyi.. Ride Guide is a Mercury brand name steering... similar to Johnson's Shipmaster... or Evinrude Simplex.

Hi,
If your transom components are too corroded, we do have a new old stock assembly.

Regards,
Joe
www.fergusonpoolemarine.com
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hey Mad, hope this helps. Your cable is held in to the steering tube aka gear box, by way of threaded shaft and nut with lock washer. After soaking I would recommend placing a drill on the inner cable and try nudging it to spin if it don't spin soak it some more. Don't forget to clean and inspect the gearbox while you are at it.
Al

thanks for all the help. its soaking as i type.

I always have an oil with ATF in it alone. Never thought of the acetone.

Just an update on the stuck steering cable on my dorsett. the 50/50 mix of atf and acetone worked like a charm, just kept putting small amounts on the shaft and solwly moveing the wheel back and forth and bingo it broke loose. kept adding more to the shaft while moving the wheel wiping off the gunk . works like new. thanks again!!!

works like new. thanks again!!!

Excellent! knock them out one at a time and she'll be motoring in no time.

fyi.. Ride Guide is a Mercury brand name steering... similar to Johnson's Shipmaster... or Evinrude Simplex.

Yes... that makes sense. It looks to be a fairly popular setup.

Interesting, I thought the flat at 12 o'clock was a spot with Mfg name Dorsett. (Mine is missing). But the diagram above shows it said Quick Silver. Were these private labeled here by the boat Mfgs?