Changing Teleflex steering cable Routing ???

[Boilermaker]

My boat (1971 Westwind 180) has the steering cable achored to the transome with a ball-bracket, and then a rod going straight to the steering arm on the engine.<br /> The steering cable was replaced years ago and has a large "U" shaped bow in it>>>probably about an extra foot or more of cable then the boat needs in this configuration.<br /><br />The engine (1978 Johnson 115) has the tilt tube that has plastic screw-on caps on it now. What would be necessary to change it to the tilt tube type steering??? And is there any big benifit to this type over what I now have????<br /><br />I am thinking of changing it because I want to raise the engine hight on the transome. I will have to enlarge, or notch the engine well opening to give vertical clearance for the steering arm if I raise the engine the way it is set up now.

 

[mikeyzx2]

Re: Changing Teleflex steering cable Routing ???

with the tilt tube setup you need the steering linkage that bolts from the steering arm to the steering rod. the steering rod obviously is run through the tube and the end of cable sheath is threaded onto the tube and tightened down snug. I would think your current setup is better, because it's connected to the motor directly rather than through the linkage, which could possible corrode and bind up. I have the tube setup and if you caught any of my previous posts you'd see one of the problems with it.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Changing Teleflex steering cable Routing ???

Sounds like that the tilt tube steering was the way it was set up originally Boilermaker...with all that extra cable laying around. If you are going to raise the engine, then the tilt tube steering set up is the way to go. You don't want to be cutting into the transom or engine well just to make clearance.....could cause you some grief in the future. So....respectfully disagreeing with Mikey...go with the tilt tube steering.

 

[mikeyzx2]

Re: Changing Teleflex steering cable Routing ???

that's fine OBJ actually I didn't finish the post like I wanted and you took the rest of the words outta my head , I meant to add the modifying is not in the best interests. you'll have to acquire the steering linkage in order for it to work you might have some luck finding a used one if you look around.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Changing Teleflex steering cable Routing ???

Dead on Mikey....

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Changing Teleflex steering cable Routing ???

Well, I now know why it is set up like it is. The boat originally had a 1971 85 Hp Johnson>>>In 1978 My dad had a new steering cable installed when he repowered with the 115HP Johnson. (Its great know ithe full history of my old boat)<br /> The old 85 had the cable routed like it is now>>>I don't know if they used the tilt tubes then or not. I think when they replaced the steering cable, they tried to set it up for the tilt tube (thus the extra foot of cable) but the engine-well gets to narrow to fit the linkage! It wouldn't allow for a full turn to port! <br />So they just set it back up with the ball bracket bolted to the transome. <br /> I will only need to put a small notch in the existing opening of the engine-well. The steering tube just touches the fiberglass there now>>>I just want to add a little releif>>>maybe 1/8 inch or so, just to prevent cracking.<br /><br />Thanks for all the input though>>>its been educational. GOD>>>I love this site!<br />