Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

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imported_Samuel

Seaman
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Jul 6, 2006
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How many winds are generally recommended around the drum on a cable replacement. I can get about seems... crowded or.... as little as 2I... getting some slipping or popping as I turn wheel... Also as to slack or play how.. much is desirable... figure to taut is not good and certainly to loose is not good... know one of you excellent boatsmen"" will have the answer...
Thx
Thx.

Samuel
 
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imported_Samuel

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable

Sorry for mis-spells...I hit post too soon...anyway point of clarification:

I meant as many as 5 winds on drum (of cable) or as little as 2..also how much play / slack should be allowed..thank you.

Samuel
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable

samuel, they numer of winds, depends total on how mant it takes to turn you engine from one side to the other, plus 1 wind.. when i had this system i preferred taught, so no play in the engine, the poping sound is the wraps on the drum sipping this really is a good system, just takes a little trial and error. make sure you have it right before you cut the cable.
 
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birthdayboy

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

I am rebuilding a 1976 boston whaler and am trying to rewind the steering cable around the steering durm under the helm. I've read the postings about how to do this on other boat models, but mine may be slightly different in that instead of holes in the drum it has a slit going down the center of the drum from top to bottom. So if i was to wind the cable into this type drum would i take the end loop of the cable, push it thru the slit so the loop is inside the drum, then start wrapping each side of the cable around the drum? And should the wrapping start with one side of the cable at the top and one at the bottom of the drum, or start from the center of the drum and work outward?
thanks to anyone who can help!
 
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tmcalavy

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

When I did mine, I took my length of cable and doubled it to find the exact center...which mounts into the hub slit. My hub has grooves, so I wound each piece of remaining cable onto the hub so that both come off the bottom hub near center, each in a different direction. Route each whip through pulleys and tension springs on transom, anchoring each whip end with cable clamps to the whip itself. Taught is good with this system.
 
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birthdayboy

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Thank you all for the great advice, and for keeping this forum active. I was able to find diagrams of the steering drum and advice on how to thread new steering cable into a drum with a slit instead of a hole. With this i was able to thread my new cable into the drum and then route it properly all the way through the steering pulley system of my 1976 Boston Whaler. Now it's ready to steer!
Note: to hold the setup of the cable on the drum while i threaded each line through the pulleys, i wrapped tape around the drum, and then removed the tape once the cable was all threaded back to the motor.
 
Ned L

Ned L

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Just remember that on a traditional cable steering system ALL turning points (pullies) and the cable ends where the spring tensioners fasten to SHOULD be through bolted (no wood screews or self tapping screws). Bad accidents can happen if something lets go. - I'm not at all against this type of steering, just make sure it is installed properly.
 
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birthdayboy

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

We didnt replace any of the mounting for the pulleys or at the ends of the cable, just rethreaded it thru the existing setup. But i will double check all the holding points. Thanks!
 
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misteredd

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Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

Re: Cable/Drum Steering: Re-cable "ing"

tmcalavy said:
When I did mine, I took my length of cable and doubled it to find the exact center...which mounts into the hub slit. My hub has grooves, so I wound each piece of remaining cable onto the hub so that both come off the bottom hub near center, each in a different direction. Route each whip through pulleys and tension springs on transom, anchoring each whip end with cable clamps to the whip itself. Taught is good with this system.
Click to expand...

Thank you Captain, at last a reply that I can understand -
It has taken me almost five hours to find this !

When re-painting my Shetland 535 I disconnected the cable steering connections from the outboard motor. Unfortunately, I forgot to keep the cable under tension,
(doh!) and it dropped off the hub behind the steering wheel.
I have never really looked at this before and I had no idea how to put it back.
Eventually, after a lot of head scratching I wrapped it around the hub a couple of times, and the steering did seem to work okay.

It was the slot in the hub running right across the cable grooves that worried me , I thought, ' I bet thats there for a reason'

Now I know, and that explains the strange kink I found in the cable in that area. I shall now put things right !

Many Thanks
Eddie
 
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