Old Cable steering setup- need help

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matth121

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 19, 2011
Messages
275
Hey guys- i have an older 14ft fiberglass boat. I changed the engine today and one of the steering cables broke on me. :facepalm: Its not really a great setup- im thinking its whats referred to as a pull pull setup. My steering wheels has what ressembles 2 pulleys at the end under the dash. one cable runs to the right, one to the left, both go down the sides of the boat and come out on each side of the motor. My question is how do i replace the cables...when one broke- i tried to do a temp fix and shortened the attachment point on one side- what ended up happening is i would turn the wheel one way ok, but when i went to turn it back- the cables just loosened and cam off the pulleys i mentioned. Is there a procedure to install these cables so they stay tight on the pulleys? appreciate any help anyone can offer- i can't replace this system with a more effecient/safer sys right now so I have to fix whats there. Thanks guys
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Re: Old Cable steering setup- need help

Ayuh,... There's a sticky explainin' how to fix that system in a forum,...
I Think it's in the Outboards, general discussions non-repair forum...
 
M

matth121

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 19, 2011
Messages
275
Re: Old Cable steering setup- need help

awesome, thanks, sorry if i posted the same old question again, i searched but didnt find anything. I'll have a look
 
O

over60pirate

Cadet
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
15
Re: Old Cable steering setup- need help

I can't really give info on the cable steering. However, I also have an old 14' runnabout (1959 Whitehouse) and shortly after getting it on the water for the first time, I found a boat being thrown out, and it had the exact length I needed. It uses a single thick cable.
The difference, between the "clothesline" cable/pulley steering, and this system, is like a worn out, steering box steering, with a worn out idler arm, in a car, and a tight rack and pinion system.
 
M

matth121

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 19, 2011
Messages
275
Re: Old Cable steering setup- need help

i get your point, believe me i do, but it steered fine last year with the same worn out setup that just broke on me. admittedly, it was stiff, but worked ok. if i happen to stumble across a junked setup that'll work, i'll definitely consider that but i'm not gonna hold my breath on that.
 
Ned L

Ned L

Commander
Joined
Sep 17, 2008
Messages
2,268
Re: Old Cable steering setup- need help

Those traditional cable steering systems are fine, and work nicely, when in 'good' condition. HOWEVER, if you are going over your steering make sure that all the turn points (pulleys & cable end pioints) are through bolted and not just fastened with screws. There is a dangerous aspect to this type of steering. If the steering lets go (something breaks or pulls loose) when runnign at high speed the outboard WILL imediately flop all the way over to one side sending the boat into high speed circles. If someone is thrown overboard when this happens they will be in the path of the boat as it comes back around. - I do like this type of steering for a nice simple tradional setup, but they do have to be checked over & not 'jurry rigged', a lot of people have been injured & killed over the years from just this.
 
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