I have a 1988 tracker TX 17 with a 50hp motor. Every year the steering freezes up from sitting idle. I bought a new boat and gave the tx17 to my son. With work and all he's just now able to put it in the water and the steering is bound up tight again.

Anyone know how to clean/lube this to free it up?

I'm all done talking to the tracker people. This would be another $1000 job for them.

Thanks in advance.

going to need to put in a new steering cable. not that much $$ a few $100 not $1000 like you said.  My Sea Nymph did the same thing and once they start to stiffen up there is noway to get them loose again. time for a new cables, this is very common on boats of that age. My boat is a 1990 and the steering needed changed 6 years ago.

Given the boats age, I'd consider buying a steering cable kit that includes the helm as well.  

Check out prices for the hardware - you might find the dealers pricing not so far off depending on system used.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/catalog.cgi?cname=Steering-Systems&r=browse&aID=601P1

I replaced the cable in my Skeeter last year. 110.00 bucks and less than an hour's job. Just measure to get the correct length and it's a very simple job. Mine had two bolts at the steering arm on the motor and the other end just fed into the mechanism under the steering wheel. Just feed it in and turn the wheel and it adjusts and locks itself. Your attachment may be different. After it was done you could steer it with one finger trimed at any level.