Steering system

[miichael18]

I have a 1974 Glastron with a 125HP Force engine and the steering cable was stuck. After trying to get it unstuck i broke the aluminum teeth off the rack system that hooks to the cable. now the steering wheel just turns free because the teeth are gone. would i be better off tring to find that piece where the teeth are broke and replacing it and a new cable or just buy a whole new kit? What would the best sytem be to just replace the whole steering controls. I want the cheapest way out to get everything i need. Which steering kit do i need? also how do i measure what size of cable i need? can i just measure the cable i have now and order one at that? Any info on steering kits would be great. Thanks

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Steering system

Your old cable should have the length printed on it. You can get complete replacement systems for just a bit more (sometimes less) than the cable alone. The flat-rack systems are a pain to work with compared to the rotary ones. Whenever possible, I install a rotary. The end that feeds to the helm is completely flexible and much easier to route. TONS easier!<br /><br />Your steering wheel probably won't work on the new system. It probably had a square taper instead of the keyed taper on the new ones. You might have to spend a bit more and get a steering wheel. It is also possible that you can't get just a replacememt cable for that system anymore.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Steering system

Definitely upgrade to a newer steering system, they are much better now. No Feed Back is the way to go.

 

[miichael18]

Re: Steering system

i didnt see the length of the cable on it anywhere do i just measure it from end to end? the cable is stuck with the motor going straight so couldnt i mesure it and round it up to the nearest foot?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Steering system

Depends on the system, but here's a weird general formula...<br /><br />Measure the plastic jacket from end to end in inches, add 30", then divide the result by 12. I have no idea where this strange formula came from, but it seems to work. It's usually in the catalog that lists the systems.<br /><br />You'd think to measure from cable end to cable end, or from anchoring point to anchoring point. But that would make sense. We just can't have that when dealing with marine stuff. That'd upset the apple cart.<br /><br />If you decide to go with the rotary, you might have to bump it up a foot because it attaches to the helm a bit closer to the center point than the rack which sticks quite a ways out.