Cable Adjustment
The adjustment is at the top of the rudder stock. The standard Edson wheel runs as follows: From the wheel there's a short (3-4') chain and sprocket assembly from the hub of the wheel that runs down into the pedestal. Each end of the chain attaches to a cable. The cables run via various means back to the rudder -- some turn aft through sheaves at the base of the pedestal below the cockpit; some run through "push-pull" conduit aft. Now, at the top of the rudder stock there's a large flywheel (which has a nautical name which I'll be darned if I can remember). The cables loop around the flywheel and attach to eyebolts that bolt through the flywheel. The attachment is around a metal thimble through the eyebolt, and then each cable loops back on itself and is held in place by wire clips. You have two alternatives to tighten the cables and take out the slack. One is to tighten the eyebolts. To do so you get up under the cockpit via the quarterberth and access the steering assembly -- you'll see the ends of eyebolts protruding through the bottom of the flywheel, and you tighten up the nuts equally on both cables to take up the slack. But be careful if you try this course of action -- they're under a lot of tension, and if you tighten too much and the eyebolts have corroded they may shear off (yes, that's the voice of experience talking). I'd try the other alternative. If the aft lazaret locker there'll be an access cover to remove to access the top of the rudder stock and flywheel. You'll then see where the cables with thimbles run through the eyebolts and then clip off on themselves. Undo the clips and pull in the slack on both sides, then re-do the clamps. In either instance, lock the wheel down first so the wheel/rudder don't shift around once you've started the process. Also take the time to make sure it's just slack cables -- they may have jumped off the flywheel, one of the eyebolts may have sheared, or you could have a broken fitting at the inside base of the pedestal that has allowed the slack to occur. Again, the voice of experience. Anything amiss should be repaired. Finally, once you've done all this put the boat through a good sea trial to make sure nothing again slips loose. Before you leave the dock on that trial, make sure you have an emergency tiller, that you know how to install it and that it fits. When I did all this I found, first, that my play was caused by a broken fitting in the base of the pedestal. The break had also resulted in significant wear on the cable -- so much so that it was close to parting -- so I replaced the cable/chain assembly. That repaired, I put out in the bay only to have the cables jump off the flywheel due to a partly sheared eyebolt (luckily I had already taken my own advice re: ememrgency tiller). Attempting to tighten the eyebolts completed the shear. I then replaced the eyebolts and took up the slack by readjusting the thimbles and clips. Success! Edson will fax or email you some good repair sheets on this work if you call their customer service desk -- really helpful people with advice over the phone and via email. Good luck! Mike Turner S/V Amity (C30) Long Beach
