broken steering cable

[txmilke]

Hi All,
Just in time for Memorial Day, I have a broken steering cable on my 1980 H27. It was an interesting ride back in. THe yard says it will be weeks before they get to it. This is a Yacht Specilaties pedestal steering mechanism. Has anyone had occasion to do this repair themselves? Is this possible for a fairly handy person or out of range for technical, safety or other reasons? Any comments on what's involved would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom Milke
sv/Pilgrim
Rhode River, MD

 

[Nelsonhow]

The shout answer is yes

The long is:
Most small sail boat wheel systems are pretty similar. Edison (Edsonmarine.com I think) may have a replacement cable that would fit. The key is the chain that goes over the gear drive in the pedestal. I has to be the right size. There are stainless cables on both sides of the chain attached to the chain. The order goes on one side: over the chain gear drive in the pedestal, down the pedestal, cross under the pedestal, over the idler pulley to either a radial quadrant or through a sheave on the side of the boat in the back near the quadrant to a 1/2 quadrant. Its the same on the other side.

The key is the length of the cable from the end of the chain to the quadrant. You can always make it shorter but not longer. Depending on the way the the cable is attached to the chain either with cable clamp or a press fitting it can be easy or hard. You may be able to take the chain and cable off and get a replacement made up with cable from parts on hand at west marine. Note that if one side is replace do both at the same time.That is if Edson doesn't have one that will fit in stock and they ship overnight. IF you're small and can work in tight hot smelly spaces a good DYIer with patience could do it. , Edson has a very good manual on line that you can down load to understand how it all goes together. Read their instructions on how to install a pedestal system and you'll learn a lot of tricks first. Take a look on line first before you attempt it.

Good Luck

 

[emkay]

I had that cable in and out in half an hour, twice! Order it up and do it yourself, it's easy.

 

[txmilke]

Thanks to you both for your comments. Yes, it looks like Edson has exactly what I need (although the prices are a bit of a surprise).

emkay: Any particular reason why you had to do it twice? Something simple I can avoid?
Tom

 

[emkay]

I fixed the steering, then realized I have to drop the rudder to remove the driveshaft, so I had to remove it again.

 

[txmilke]

Edson parts won't fit.

Just for completeness on this thread, I got in touch with Edson and sent them pictures of te parts. THe existing chain is a type 40ss chain and they "don't support type 40 chain". They support type 50. They suggested I find a local rigging shop. The saga continues....

I fixed the steering, then realized I have to drop the rudder to remove the driveshaft, so I had to remove it again.

 

[Terry2821]

Re: Edson parts won't fit.

Dude...I have a 33, similar set-up on the steering. Take broken cable, measure, go to west marine, buy cable, swage thimbles on one end of each. Go to boat install then go home for late breakfast. (depending on how far the west marine store is) Not really hard to do, just some tight fitting spaces to work with. On my steering the cables cross in the pedestal, but the sheave below deck will tell you how it works. Just make sure they cross somewhere or steering will be backwards.

 

[txmilke]

<snip>On my steering the cables cross in the pedestal, but the sheave below deck will tell you how it works.
</snip>

Thanks, UncleGabby, for your reply. I've got it hooked up (missed that late breakfast, though) and it seems to be fine, but I'm a bit troubled by the cables crossing in the pedestal. Not sure what you mean by "the sheave below deck will tell you how it works". There's one for each cable and they appear to work the same whether the cables are crossed or not. If the cables cross in the pedestal, aren't they going to be rubbing against each other? Like I said, seems to be fine, but a bit concerned about problems down the line.
Tom

 

[J Hunter]

tx- what Uncle gabby is saying is there is some part of the cable/ chain /pulley configuration that allows the tip of the rudder to get pulled in the opposite direction as it would be if the side of the chain (at the sprocket attached to the wheel) that was moving upwards in the pedestal simply spun the rudder post in that direction. If you matched the existing and your rudder moves to starboard when you turn your helm clockwise looking forward - your good.

 

[rardiH36]

Tom:

Here's another twist (pun intendended) about the wire crossing inside the pedestal. It's important to know. You have touched on it already in your 6/28 response.

It's not really noticeable unless you are really looking hard for it, but its absolutely necessary that one of the wires that come off each side of the chain be arranged that it crosses in front of the other correctly. Sorry, I don't recall whether its the port or starboard. This is because one of the sheaves (the pulleys that angle the downward direction of the cables back towards the quadrant), is positioned slightly more forward of the other. This offset sheave arrangement is so the crossed cables do not rub against each other inside the pedestal. (This is the concern you touched on.) If you route the crossed wires to the wrong respective sheave, then they will rub and the cable life will be greatly shortened. Wish I could explain in words better, but hope you get the gist.

I learned this when I put my pedestal back together several years ago. When I took it apart, I didn't notice the crossing of the cables inside the pedestal, and my first outcome upon re-installing was my turn to port got the rudder to go to starboard and vice-versa. Being a little more careful the second time, when I crossed them to the opposite sheave, I looked down the pedestal with a flashlight and noticed the cables were rubbing. That's when I discovered the offset of the sheaves and the necessity of routing the correct wire in front of the other, rather than backwards.

regards,
Rardi

 

[txmilke]

most excellent!

Thanks, Rardi, for your reply. I can't look down the pedestal with a flashlight and see anything, even with the compass holder/thingy removed from the top. I've got a 50/50 chance of having it right at the moment, but I'd like better odds than that. This weekend I'll try it reversed the other way round and see if I can feel/hear any rubbing.
Tom

 

[rardiH36]

Re: most excellent!

Tom:

Another option to "see" inside the pedestal is if you've got enough room to get your head directly underneath. There is a small opening that you might just be able to see(again with a flashlight) enough of the cable to verify that if your 50/50 odds sheave routing has avoided the cable rubbing or not. Or maybe you can angle a mirror to look up. Worth a try rather than taking disconnecting again from the quadrant. I don't remember, but there might be other clues noticeable from underneath if you've got it right or not. And try again from the top if you compass is still off. Maybe at night-time when the flashlight will illuminate better without all the glare from the sun.

regards,
rardi

 

[29s]

re: steering cable

Last month I posted on Hunter mid-size boat forum concerning cable replacement. After disappointing experience from Edson, I purchased chain from local industrial supplier for $20 and cable from another supplier for additional $40, which included nicopressing onto chain.