Outback flotation block and rudder lines

A few questions on my 2013 Outback:

First, is there a "proper" location for the flotation block inside? Mine is roughly 3"x4" and a couple feet long. I never noticed where it was before it showed up in the front hatch a few months ago. At the time I just shoved it back down one side of the hull but started worrying it might be interfering with the rudder lines. That doesn't appear to have been the case, but still wonder if there's a "right" place for it to go.

Second, on some outings my steering control lines will "twang" when steering. Some trips it's smooth as silk but other trips it seems much stiffer and there's constant twanging while moving the lever. Looking inside the hull this morning I realized it could possibly be the spring on the handle shaft that's making noise, which then travels down the lines? The noise is definitely coming from around the handle, even if I swing the rudder side to side by hand I can occasionally hear the twang from up by the handle.

Is this a problem? Is there something I could do to quiet it down? (It isn't LOUD just disconcerting!)

Finally, the up/down control often seems much tougher than it should. On occasion the rudder seems to move almost effortlessly, but at other times I'm half afraid I'll break something I have to tug so hard. Not to mention a low but annoying number of times where it doesn't seem to deploy fully and I have to pull it up then back down again to get it working properly. (When it's improperly deployed I find myself doing a constant left turn, the steering handle fully right barely gets me going straight.)

Any thoughts on this? Something that could be adjusted, or just the way it is?

I did try lubricating the hinge points on the rudder a while back, didn't seem to make a huge amount of difference. I didn't take anything apart, just dribbled some lube on the moving points I could get at.

One more question!

While tinkering with the rudder this morning I notice there's a little play. I checked the Twist-n-Stow repair manual and it says basically "not too loose, not too tight"! Um...

So I don't want the lines so tight things bind, but should I take out all play? Right now the steering knob can move about 1/4" without moving the rudder.

I've not really noticed this as a problem on the water, but while I'm doing maintenance...

I have a 2011 Outback that experienced similar problems a while back. First be sure the foam blocks are in there proper position as if they are not they will slide around inside the hull. They should be slightly aft of the front edge of the seat so that they don't affect the steering or the up down rudder lines. With regards to the steering spring and stiffness in the handle: look at the steering handle topside deck to see if it is causing gouges or swing marks on the hull, this can be caused by bent steering crank shaft, which may account for the spring binding and making a noise. I would first try to observe what is happening below decks when you move the steering handle and feel the spring for binding while you are doing this. I assume you will have the kayak in some kind of support stand like Talics or some other method so that the rudder is in the full down position while you are testing the system. You can also spray the area below decks with dry-lube but I can't image the problem you described can be fixed with that alone. You want a little play in the steering lines but not so tight that you can't even depress them with your fingers as they leave the hull near the twist and stow rudder, also be sure the end caps (81405101) are seating properly. Just my two cents and I hope this helps.