Steering Cable

[dogbert]

I do not think you could work the grease into the cable far enough to do any good. If you were to just grease the part that is showing that might just make a greasy bilge when you accumulate water.

You'd think they could come up with a design that didn't involve a steering cable that ended up in the lowest part of the bilge so it could rust.

[jleger98]

I guess after thinking about this more, Lee, would it make sense for this to be a normal, maybe seasonal maintainance thing, where you grease the end. This would, presumably keep the internal parts of the cable lubricated with its original grease, while the new grease would help to keep water out?

Maybe I'm just bored and need boating season to get here. I'm thinking about greasing cables in my spare time........ugh!

[mtnsmith]

I guess after thinking about this more, Lee, would it make sense for this to be a normal, maybe seasonal maintainance thing, where you grease the end. This would, presumably keep the internal parts of the cable lubricated with its original grease, while the new grease would help to keep water out?

Maybe I'm just bored and need boating season to get here. I'm thinking about greasing cables in my spare time........ugh!

I grease mine every other month. I have to change oil several times a year since we get to use the boat year round and always do it then as well. I would definitely try to do it several times a year to keep it smoother.

[FIC]

I dont care how much you grease the cable it will not prevent electrical current from erroding the internals, if you dont believe that just hook up a volt meter on the cable under the dash while your moving and watch it generate.

[jleger98]

hence the ground wire.

[Domsz06]

so where exactly should we put a ground wire? if I have to replace mine this year, I don't want to have to do it again, since I"m starting the boating season 4 months early, and going 4 moths later, I really don't feel like replacing one again next year too, esp at 2 bills each.

[Domsz06]

could there be a recall on this since it's a faulty design?

[FIC]

No its not a faulty design its the same design that every brand of boat uses, but in resent years it has come to be more of a problem , do to a multitude of reasons. But in answer to your question , you need to add a ground wire from the stainless screw on the rudder arm to the stud on the rudder port, wire from the same stud to the steering bracket, wire from steering bracket to either the engine block or battery ground cable, and last a wire under the dash from the steering rack bolt to the under dash ground bar. If you look at any outdrive unit you will notice this same principle of grounds. You can go to any marine supply and for about 15.00 pickup the stainless cable and connectors you will need , even on a v drive it shoudnt take you more than an hour.

[Domsz06]

cool. LOoks like I'll be busy this weekend.

[Tige2002]

on our boat after sitting for awhile, the stiffness in the steering came from a dry stuffing box at the rudder. After greasing it, the steering freed up but had we kept using the boat i'm sure the cable would have bound and messed up from the strain. I know everybody on here greased their rudder box but it's a thought for those who didn't.

[Domsz06]

i'l have to do it. Guess I get to work on this item this weekend.

[mtnsmith]

I was at Forte's shop this afternoon and took a look at the grounding system that he did and will for sure do it in mine. It seems like it should do some good and definitely will not hurt anything. The stainless cable is less than $12 for all the pieces you need to set up the ground system. I will just have to fold myself in half to get to the top of the runnder in the back of my 22v. Should be worth it though. I'll try to post some shots when I do it later this week. I want to see how much power is going through my cable this Thursday in the saltwater. Then I will ground on Friday to see what it is doing on Saturday.

[Domsz06]

will just a simple steel cable bought from say home depot work?

[mtnsmith]

Probably for a boat only in freshwater. I am going to use stainless since I am usually in saltwater. You might still want stainless since it will be wet pretty consistantly.

[Domsz06]

i'll track some stainless down.