RZ2 steering cable

[ptige]

So my 2007 RZ2 steering really bound up while it has been sitting this winter, and after reading all the threads I finally took everything apart and pulled the old cable. The good news is that the factory ran it above the gas tank, contrary to what many people found. The bad news is, why would it go bad if it was run in the preferred route? I am buying a one foot longer version to route forward in front of the drivers bulkhead. I know the new TFXTREME cable is supposed to be much better, but do any of you put additional grease at the rudder end or anything to help keep moisture out?

[didodave]

steering cable

I had to replace my cable last year after it broke on me. I ran the new cable in front of the helm through the front storage compartment. This route made running the new cable a breeze.

The only thing I would suggest is double checking your measurements. You may want to buy a cable that is 2 feet longer than your old one. I bought a cable that was 1 foot longer and I had to really tug on it to get it to bolt back up in the proper position. The next time I have to replace it I am going to buy one that is 1 more foot longer than what is in the boat now.

[dom w. forte]

If you read a lot of the threads, you should of found a post where I said even if the cable was above the fuel tank it wont stop electrollisis, you need to add ground straps to the steering system to keep the cable from welding itself internally.
Grounds need to run from rudder port,to rudder arm, from rudder arm to steering support bracket, to prop strut , to engine block ground at bellhousing, this will ground out any voltage generation , its the same thing they do with I/O outdrives.

[IDBoating]

If you read a lot of the threads, you should of found a post where I said even if the cable was above the fuel tank it wont stop electrollisis, you need to add ground straps to the steering system to keep the cable from welding itself internally.

Is this primarily a salt water thing (because salt water is so much more conductive), or do you see cable self-welding in freshwater applications too?

[ptige]

steering grounding

My boat has always been in fresh water, but I have to say that after I put the FAE on last season the quick pins and swim deck hardware showed really accelerated rusting and corrosion blooms, so maybe there is some relation. Based on Dom's post, I'm going to ground all the gear I can to the engine, and even include the swim step brackets and taps plate if I can.

[wired1236]

Here is a great article on corrosion and grounding. Specifically read the bottom of the 2nd page. I'm sure most of us have DC power wires (like going to bilge and ballast pumps) that are down near or in the water of our hulls. I know I found the factory used heat shrink connectors on my ballast pumps which are on the very bottom of the hull but didn't shrink them!

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1

[IDBoating]

Here is a great article on corrosion and grounding.

Thanks for the article! The table they included is properly named a "triboelectric table" and usually includes a lot more than just metals, though for this article the abbreviated version makes sense.

I'm curious about their comments regarding AC shore power. A proper AC power system on a boat should have absolutely no connection whatsoever with the water, except perhaps its earth ground (green) lead. But a properly operating AC power system should also not have any current on that green wire... it's there as protection and is not normally part of the circuit. Thus I'm confused as to why AC shore power would encourage underwater galvanic corrosion... if that were really happening I'd worry a LOT more about faulty AC wiring than replacing a sacrificial anode!

[wired1236]

I'm not an electrical engineer but do have a little experience. I believe it's due to common grounding. By hooking into a common power source, all the boats connected to the same power grid are essentially connected to each other via the ground. Therefore you will see some stray shared voltages unless protected as they mentioned. I'm leaving it at that as that's the limit to my bacially novice experience

[ptige]

ac grounding

Here is a recent article about how multiple boats with AC shore power are effectively connected together, and dissimilar metals on the boats would lead to galvanic corrosion. Look at the part labelled "Is Bad Company Destroying My Zincs?"

[ptige]

ac grounding

Here is the link, it didn't go last time.

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/december/ask.asp

[dom w. forte]

Is this primarily a salt water thing (because salt water is so much more conductive), or do you see cable self-welding in freshwater applications too?

I have hooked a volt meter under the dash in several boats, the b+ cable to the steering rack, and the ground wire to a ground wire under the dash, in several different lakes, including the dealers meeting that was in Dallas a few years back, the voltage generation was anywhere from .6 to 1.2 volts , also varyed with the speed of the boat through the water.
My ski team boat went through a cable in the first 150hrs, after installing a new cable and grounds, im still on the second with 1250hrs, and thats combined ussage in fresh and salt.

[Nobody]

I have hooked a volt meter under the dash in several boats, the b+ cable to the steering rack, and the ground wire to a ground wire under the dash, in several different lakes, including the dealers meeting that was in Dallas a few years back, the voltage generation was anywhere from .6 to 1.2 volts , also varyed with the speed of the boat through the water.
My ski team boat went through a cable in the first 150hrs, after installing a new cable and grounds, im still on the second with 1250hrs, and thats combined ussage in fresh and salt.

Dom, do you have any professional advise on the Teleflex TFXTREME cable?? Is it worth the money.