steering question

[Clutzmi]

i have the old cable and pulley steering system on my 69 arrow glass with a 70 115hp evinrude. i have never driven a boat with this system. the boat will be a river boat and im concerned about it. my question is does anyone make a complete retrofit system to change it to a more modern style of system? or is this system reliable enough to just maintain it and leave it be?

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: steering question

i use a cable/pulley one myself, no problems. Im sure you could buy a retrofit of some sort. There a adaptors for almost everything these days. I stumbled across a half inch to three quarter inch adaptor the other day for my wrench which i didnt know existed.
I just make sure the cable, which is a rope on mine isnt fraying and the bolts that hold it to the chassis arent rusting out and that the ends are securely tied on. I do that check every few trips

 

[F_R]

Re: steering question

There is nothing wrong with cable/pulley steering if installed correctly. First, the geometry must be right, but that is another question. Second, like any other system, the parts must be in good condition. Thirdly, the dangerous part: The pulley straps should be through-bolted to the hull, no wood screws. And there were some pulleys made with brass hooks that were just peened over where they go through the U-strap on the pulley. Sometimes those things would pull out. Not good. Lastly, the cable itself: If it is discolored in spots (wire inside is rusted), or the plastic is disintegrating, replace the cable. You can get it at hardware stores or Home Depot.

Actually, that motor was designed for cable/pulley steering. You CAN retrofit with a Teleflex push-pull system, but that itself has fit-up problems. If it were mine, I'd stay with cable/pulley.

 

[boobie]

Re: steering question

Stay with the cable/pulley. Less hassle and less $$$$.

 

[82rude]

Re: steering question

just don't remove to fix and redo as my buddy did ,then when he went for a spin he turned the wheel left and the boat went right .it was hilarious.as for going to the push pull I did that and it was actually quite simple with the proper parts at the motor end of the deal.i took some pics somewhere in my albums of doing it ,but as the other guys say ,nothing wrong with what you have.

 

[boobie]

Re: steering question

Your buddy wound the cable wrong on the steering wheel spool.

 

[82rude]

Re: steering question

yup ,it was funny as heck though.he forgot he was upside down and obviously did it wrong ,the look on his face was priceless.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: steering question

My friend's father wound the cable wrong on the steering pully, right after he replaced the impeller in the Merc. And he installed the shift shaft wrong. So turn the wheel right to go left, and pull the throttle back to go forward.

We actually went skiing with the boat that day and no one got killed.