Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

[Coachjfk]

My 1977 Glastron T-178 with Johnson 115 hp outboard appears to have been built around the steering cable that is now binding so badly that I believe it is a safety hazard. I think that I should cut the cable for removal and steering rod.

The S turn that the cable makes now proves impossible to remove the steering rod from the tilt tube. Assembly is about 14 inches long yet distance from sidewall of splashwell to tube is only 8. Even if I remove the OB, I'll have to cut something as the nut holding the cable to the tilt tube is larger than the hole cut in the sidewall.

After removal, I intend to drill another hole a couple of inches back from current one directly in line with the tilt tube for reassembly of new cable, rack and helm.

Thoughts, wisdom and experienced insight are welcome.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

What would undoing the cable from the steering column then removing the outboard do? This way you could bring the steering cable out at the same time you move the outboard away from the hull.

 

[Coachjfk]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

Yes, lifting the OB will allow me to remove cable and reinsert new one as I can move the motor around for alignment and distance.

Nut on new cable to attach to tilt tube is larger than hole for existing cable. Since I'll have to cut a new hole anyways for this larger nut, I was thinking that i would relocate it a few inches to remove the "S" turn from the sidewall and make installation easier.

Since I have to cut/drill a new hole anyways and I'm not looking forward to removing the motor from the boat, I'm looking for advice on if I can just cutting the old one for removal, drilling a new hole for reinstallation and whether or not anyone has accomplished this without removing the motor.

Thanks for your help.

 

[109jb]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

Remove the motor and then unhook the old cable from the helm. Pull the old cable out from the transom end. Tie a cord or something to the helm end of the cable to help you fish the new one in. The helm end of the cable is fairly small and should go through the hole. Then thread the new cable in from the transom to the console. Once the cable is threaded through, hook it up to the helm, put the motor back on and you are ready to go. I had to do one this way a few years ago.

 

[guy74]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

I did basically what you are planning on doing, on my glastron V156. It originally had a splashwell mounted steering tube, it had been converted to a motor mounted tube before I got it. They just ran the cable out thru the spashwell mount, it made the S bend like you are talking about with this configuration. I made a new hole inline with the tube on the motor tube so I could remove the steering cable without removing the motor, also makes changing the motor easier, don't have to thread the cable in while I'm hanging the motor this way. (I change back and forth from my 60hp to the 85hp a couple times a year, depend on where I'm boating) It also made the motor steer easier getting rid of the extra bends, so I say: Go for it if thats what you want to do, and there isn't anything behind the side of the splashwell that in the way. Just cut the old cable to get it out of the way, I wasn't replacing my cable at the time I modified mine, so I had to pull the motor anyway.

 

[Coachjfk]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

Thanks for the replies. I think that I have a better idea of what I'm going to do, but I think that I'll wait till after this year's boating season. The wife and kids get impatient with me when I'm working on the boat. They'd rather be on the water.

Great point from 109jb. I forgot about disassembling the helm end on the old cable. Fairly new to boating so each project seems to take more time to decide what and how to do it than it actually takes to do the task itself.

Guy74, You've given me the nod that I needed to relocate the hole to where it seems to make more sense.

 

[mrcj001]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

I had the same problem:

A bigger engine was installed on the boat and the bend near the engine was too tight to remove.

Removing the engine was not a option for me.

I ordered a new steering cable system and ordered one (1) foot longer than what was there.

I drilled a new exit hole about 10" to the right on the back of the transom and ran the cable thru there and it easly went right in. I used a rigging tube and a clam shell to cover the new hole.

 

[Coachjfk]

Re: Steering Cable: Cut or lift motor

Since I already have the cable, I'm praying that It doesn't need to be longer. In hindsight, that probably would have been a good idea.