throttle cable

[steven f.]

Just starting to notice my throttle getting stiff. It feels like it is in the pedestal not the cable. Is there some routine maintance to do in this area to keep all well? If so does the compass need to be removed?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Edson?

Not familiar with any other pedestal. I would first check at the engine end. Make certain no kinks, nothing binding, etc. You should see a cable brake, a bolt through an aluminum U-shaped bracket, that tensions the cable. Loosen that and see if the throttle is still stiff. Still hard to move? Then you will have to remove the binnacle. The Edson website has a pretty good parts breakdown. If you are going to all that effort you should replace the cable and lubricate everything.

 

[Tim Schaaf]

Steering cables, too

The Edson binnacle on the h33 is not hard to remove, but you just might get away with putting some WD40 down the cable. However, if you have the compass off the pedestal, give your steering cables a good check. I was surprised to see that Edson recommends changing them every five years. When I checked mine after about thirteen years (!), I was stunned to find that most of the strands had parted. I almost had the chance to try out the emergency tiller, for real!

 

[steven f.]

thanx for the advise

Thanx for the tips, better to deal with it at the dock than anyplace else at the worst possible moment. Any other preventable repairs I should do while the compass is off and I'm digging around in that part of the boat?

 

[steve ruell]

My experience

I had the same problem and found through advice from hunterlist that there was a cable brake. It's a simple clamp on the cable just before it meets the engine. When I took that off the cable loosened up nicely to the correct effort. I'm going to replace the cable but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[Sanders LaMont]

Mechanic's advice on throttle cable

My new-to-me 37 cutter has the same problem, and here's what the mechanic who did the engine survey suggested:- step one, check and loosen the cable brake. We did, but that didn't eliminated the problem.- step two, remove the compass and check the adjusting nut(s) on top of the cable assembly (I haven't seen or done this yet), clean and lubricate from the top.- If that fails, remove and replace the throttle cable from pedestal to engine.Note: in older boats, I am told, sometimes the aluminum oxidizes in a way that restricts small openings (sounds like hardening arteries) and those should be checked and, if needed, redrilled.I am halfway through the process.Good luck.