Lubricating Whitlock cable steering?

[Boracay]

I have Whitlock cable steering on Boracay which looks pretty old. There is a fair bit of initial friction when turning the wheel that I would like to reduce as far as possible.

I've pulled the compass off so I can see the chain mechanism, but getting that far required dealing with some "frozen" ss machine screws in aluminium. Disassembling the pedestal further to grease the upper assembly does not seem to be an option.

It all looks OK, just a bit too much initial friction.

What I'm wondering is if there is an oil that I could apply to lubricate the bearings, chain and pulleys?

[GordMay]

Check out the Installation & Maintenance Guide:
➥ http://www.lewmar.com/cms%5Cassets%5...Manual_web.pdf

http : // www . lewmar.com/cms%5Cassets%5C1%5CLiterature/Constellation%20Steering%20Manual_web.pdf

[Jim Cate]

G'DAy Boracay,

That's always a hard one! When one can't really get at the bits that need greasing, I use a spray-can "Chain lube" available in many places. It has a fairly narrow spray pattern, will send the lube at least half a meter, and makes a hell of a mess! It is a normal sort of grease dissolved in a volatile carrier. When you spray it on something, it will penetrate into crevices to a fair degree, then the carrier evaporates, leaving the grease fraction behind. Works pretty well overall.

Good luck, and keep a bunch of rags at close hand... oh yes, the brand that I use (Molytec Australia ep chain and cable lube) has moly disulfide in it... leaves a black persistent stain behind on your white deck. Ugh!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Morning Cove, NSW, Oz