Steering Cable

[Mike H.]

I would like to tighten the steering cable as there seems to be a little to much play in the wheel (about three inches of loose rotation when changing direction). The cable itself can be deflected about one and a half inches down below between the sheave and the rudder semicircle (I'm not sure what that is called). The adjustment nuts on the ends of the cable bolts are extremely hard to access and manipulate. Is there a particular tool that would suit this job.

 

[howie]

some help

Hi Mike, Last year i replaced my entire cable and chain systems. If you have 3 inches of play at the wheel that does sound very loose! My boat (O'Day 37) has none. When the wheel is turned the rudder moves. Anyways the semicircle is called the quadrant and they play in cable on my boat is about an inch. I'm thinking that the play in the cable might not be the problem. There might be something loose in the system, like a sprocket with a worn key on the shaft, or the quadrant itself is loose? I would suggest you have a mate turn the wheel back and forth while you look at all the sheaves, sprockets, chain, rudder shaft, quadrant, etc. If your wheel is an Edson system like mine they do have a lot of the parts or can make up a new chain and cable also.howie~