Shifter cable

fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
Hello all.
While working in the abyss to get the rudder to quadrant bolt out, I noticed that my shifter cable is on its last leg.
I have an Edson pedestal with an Atomic 4 engine.
Having never changed a shifter cable on a boat, I have no idea where to start looking for a replacement.
I will soon proceed to remove it and will leave a messenger line to help with the installation.

the red cable is the shifter cable.
 

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JoeWhite

JoeWhite

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Mar 6, 2008
1,490
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
On the cable there are printed manufacturer name. You would have to remove it to measure it.
Catalina direct has them.
But why do you think you need to replace them. They can be lubricated and saved.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,453
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
The shifter cables are not "boat unique". They need to match the length and the couplings used at each end. Here are two sites that have many control cables.

Boat Control Cables – Throttle, Shift & Outboard Replacements | Wholesale Marine

Shop boat control cables from SeaStar Solutions (formerly Teleflex). Find throttle, shift, and outboard cables designed for smooth, reliable performance and easy installation.
www.wholesalemarine.com www.wholesalemarine.com

Shift and Throttle Cables

Eddie Marine is Southern California's premium billet aluminum manufacturer to help you create the custom boat you have always wanted. Proudly made in the U.S.A. we manufacture all parts in-house and offer a wide variety of boat parts. Check out our catalog for more information.
www.eddiemarine.com
 
C

colemj

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Jul 13, 2004
1,033
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
The manufacturer name may be on it, but many of the manufacturers have traded hands or stopped production, so going by that isn't always fruitful on an older boat. However, every cable has the length embossed on it. Usually toward one or both ends. The length won't be immediately obvious because it is often buried in a larger number, but the last 2 digits are always the length. So you might see something like SSC6416, where the "SSC64" is the manufacturer series of cable used (a useful piece of information if you want an identical cable), and the "16" is the length in feet of the cable.

These types of cables cannot, and should not, be lubricated in an attempt to resurrect them or give them more life. Particularly yours with busted sheaths. Just replace them outright.

If at all possible, don't remove them before securing the replacements. While a messenger line is somewhat helpful (and definitely don't remove without one!), cables often take bends and twists along their paths that a messenger line can't reproduce. This can lead to getting stuck around a bend because a line is trying to pull straight when it needs to follow the bend contour. Connect the new cable to the old cable and pull the new in while removing the old.

Mark
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,951
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
When you run the cables watch out for the bend radius, the cable will bind up if the radius is too small. Also watch out for chafe on the cable jacket.
 
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Terry Cox

Terry Cox

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Dec 25, 2000
6,043
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
fred1diver said:
Having never changed a shifter cable on a boat, I have no idea where to start looking for a replacement.
Click to expand
Not familiar with Pearson brand boats, but Hunter used Teleflex brand for their shifter and throttle control cables. At the pedestal Edson used a small clevis that threaded onto the cable stud end, which connected to the shifter arm. At the transmission end the bare cable clamped onto the shifter arm. Most chandleries carry Teleflex brand cables in various lengths. Defender.com might have something as well.
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
Ok, thank you all for the great information
When I looked at the cable when taking pictures, I found the cable routing seemed way more complicated than needed.
Let me explain my reasoning:
The cable comes out of the pedestal goes to the back on the port side of the gas tank, then under it going forward to cross to the starboard side where the shifter is located.
My thinking is that the cable is too long at the moment, it does create more bends than necessary, this might be the reason I find my shifter really hard to work.
Should I disconnect it from the shifter and try rerouting it to see if it is too long?
I am about to go to the boat to see if there is information printed on the cable
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,951
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
fred1diver said:
it does create more bends than necessary,
Click to expand
The radius of the bend is more important than the number of bends. The long routing may be to keep the bends more gentle. The other issue with shift cables is the angle the cable forms with the shift lever on the transmission. In neutral the angle should be 90°.
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
Ok, I understand, what worries me is if you look at my pictures, where the sheath is badly damaged, the bend is pretty sharp, that is why I am wondering if it is too long?
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,453
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Mechanics with cars have constantly experimented with their vehicles. :yikes:

Sometimes they discovered tremendous new, unimagined solutions. :biggrin:

Sometimes the ideas were wrong, just wrong!:facepalm:

SO they went back to the drawing boards and tried again.:)

Nothing is wrong with trying to reroute your cable. It may mean that the cable will be shorter. More. direct. You may find that the throw is quicker, or shortened ( meaning a little adjustment moves the throttle quicker, without the current hicups). Only you can be the judge, if it is better.

Based on what you have said, I would give it a try. You can always go back to the old way.

Besides, your boat is mature. Do you know if a previous owner tried the current route, or if this is the original idea of a drunken engineer, saying, "Just fit the cable in there, we need a throttle for the customer."
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
I think it is the later, I am not by a long shot the original owner of our boat, I don’t even know how many before me had their hands in her, all I know is that I keep fixing many bad repairs on her.
Having said that I don’t think it is the original routing of the cable
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,453
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I had a family friend who would take this moment and share...

"Go forth and give her a go, young man! May the grace of God and the winds of fate be with ye."
 
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fred1diver

fred1diver

.
Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
While I am in the workings of the pedestal, any input about general maintenance of it? What type of lubricants to use or not to use?
It is really dirty and grungy in there
I will post pictures later
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
Ok, as promised some pics
If you look the cable does do a sharp bend before going forward, the pedestal does need a minor cleaning and lube job.
My local chandlery told me what info was needed for them to order, so after lunch I will go back and figure those out
 

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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,951
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
That ~180° loop isn't helping. Disconnect the cable from the shifter on the pedestal and pull the cable up to make that 180° a 90° that should tell you what the correct length would be. IIRC cables only come in foot increments, round up not down in the length.

Edson sells a rebuild kit for the pedestal, has instructions and all the parts and pieces you will need.

Check your steering cables for broken strands, rust, or other evidence of wear. Also check the idler pulleys where the cable goes back to the quadrant. The pulley axle often wears a flat spot. Edson will charge an arm and a leg for new cables. You can make your own for about ½ price including buying the swaging tool.
 
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C

colemj

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Jul 13, 2004
1,033
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
dlochner said:
Check your steering cables for broken strands, rust, or other evidence of wear. Also check the idler pulleys where the cable goes back to the quadrant. The pulley axle often wears a flat spot. Edson will charge an arm and a leg for new cables. You can make your own for about ½ price including buying the swaging tool.
Click to expand
I think I see conduit steering cable in one of the pics. If so, he likely does not have any idler pulleys.

Mark
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
Ok, so tried pulling it up, does not want to budge, so I will go look from the bottom if there is a clamp or something holding it
 
fred1diver

fred1diver

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Aug 17, 2013
1,268
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa
Ok, so no clamp on the bottom, but I did find one that holds both throttle and shifter cables about midway down the pedestal, there is a screw on the e pedestal, I did remove that one, but how do I loosen the clamp itself????
 

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