Getting the Steering Cables Out W/O Removing the Engine

[KVH]

Following up on a post--I have an Evinrude 200 hp outboard and want to pull the steering cable shafts out of the engine to grease the cables and tubes, but there is insufficient room to withdraw the cables. There is some thought (the weight of it) that I may need to lift the engine off the transom and slide it partly out of the way. That makes sense. However, I came across another post saying I can disconnect the steering cables at the helm and at the engine, and then just pull them back out of the way in that fashion, leaving the engine where it is. Does anyone know if that's correct?

 

[F_R]

If there is insufficient clearance to pull it out of the engine, then it has to be removed or moved aside. Taking it loose from the helm won't help that I can see.

However. if the tilt tube is not rusted inside, it may not be necessary to pull the cable clear out. Disconnect it from the drag link and tilt tube and just slide it back and forth enough to clean it up and lubricate it.

On the other hand, if it has been neglected to the point of rusting inside the tube, you need to bite the bullet and do the whole procedure.

 

[itsaboattime]

^^^^^What he said^^^^^

 

[KVH]

OK, so you're sure that disconnecting at the helm won't allow me to pull it forward from there as I slide back out of the motor at the rear? It seems part of the problem is that I get all jammed up right where the curve and bend are where the cables come through the boat's little cable boot. It's like I'm trying to collapse the cables onto themselves, like trying to shove a wire back into its sheath.

 

[F_R]

Well actually it depends on exactly what is in the way of sliding it out. When the question is asked, there generally is some structural part of the boat in the way. The point is that the sliding ram part of the aft end of the cable can't bend, so there has to be enough room (around a foot, more or less) for that to slide straight out of the tilt tube, plus a bit of the flexible part of the cable with out bending it more than the minimum radius allowed. Bend it too sharply, and you risk damaging it.

The ram end can only collapse a certain amount till it "bottoms out". Disconnecting it at the helm end won't change that.

Now, if you think that perhaps sliding the whole flexible part of the cable forward will help (and you can't do that now), then maybe disconnecting it at the helm might help in that situation.

Bottom line: It really depends on your particular set-up. There is no "standard" boat.

 

[boobie]

I have disconnected the cable at the helm and slid it forward to get it out when I didn't have a hoist. It does work. To install the new one just reverse the procedure.