How to change a steering cable.

[davidmamato]

2004 21i steering cable replacement??? best place to purchase part?? cable size?? part number?? any special instuctions??

[chpthril]

This will be directed at the engineers that designed and approved the "Steering System" on 2007 RZ 22 and possibly others.
Why would Tige approve a steering system that in order to change out the steering cable you would need a ROTOZIP to cut out a large section of the deck below the dash, plus the floor mounted gas tank's mounts must be remove in order to maneuver the gas tank allowing removal the steering cable……………..?
Why does the steering cable lay on the bottom of the vessel’ bilge area allowing the cable to receive water, and within 3 to 6 months steering cable is stiff (due to corrosion cause by water). Our first Tige’ was a 1999 20ft: We operated this vessel for 5 plus years doing schedule maintenance, never replace the steering cable, or had any issues with this vessel.
At this time our 2007 RZ 2 has 195 motor hours with three steering cables replaced. At this time I’m replacing the 3rd steering cable because it broke approx 9” from the rack.
I would strongly recommend that the engineers at either Teleflex or Tige set down and designed a “Better Mouse Trap”.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Cant imagine a cable breaking unless it was under stress from a too tight of a radius. There are a couple of ways to prolong the life of your cable: As noted in most steering cable threads, the ideal install is to run the cable over the tank, instead of under as it was routed originally. 2nd, its been recommend to ground the cable to the engine. This prevents galvanic corrosion, as well as it has been found to build up some voltage through the rudder while the boat is under way.

[hunter]

Hi were did you get the cable for your boat?

[skippabcool]

I got mine here:

http://www.firstchoicemarine.com/p-2...-ssc15418.aspx

But there are some cheaper ones now:

http://www.boatstore.com/ssc15418-tf..._store=default

http://www.marineengine.com/products...php?in=3464834


I think my brother got his here and is the cheapest:
http://www.lowcostboatingstore.com/T...8_p_16248.html

[strohlde]

You can check with Andrew Haney too (SPBFAN). I just bought a cable from him for my 24V.

[hunter]

help 2008 22ve

Hi i am having a very hard time getting the new cable through the hole in the floor. I do not what to cut the hole out but i have tried everything i can to get it through. I have darned the fuel tank in hopes of just pulling it out and dropping the cable in and then putting the tank back in but there is not enough room to get the tank out. any help would be greatly appreciated.

[skippabcool]

Hi i am having a very hard time getting the new cable through the hole in the floor. I do not what to cut the hole out but i have tried everything i can to get it through. I have darned the fuel tank in hopes of just pulling it out and dropping the cable in and then putting the tank back in but there is not enough room to get the tank out. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cut the hole bigger. I did not want to do it but finally did. I debated it for a month or more, and watched the price of the cables go up. You still have to aim the cable towards the front and then pull it back around. I used a 2x3, pushed it up under the cable, to get the cable to the same level as the top of the tank. Enlarging the hole is still covered by the piece of material that covers the cable going up the back wall. The other option is too get a longer cable and go over into the from passenger compartment then down, typically still cutting a hole that is now not covered.

[travis5550]

BEFORE YOU CUT ANY HOLES IN YOUR BOAT try this:

Not to discredit the previous post, but I'd hate to see anyone go through all that work if you can just move the gas tank back temporarily. Not sure if that is an option in your boat, but I can't imagine Tige making a part that will obviously need replacing so impossible to do. Here is a post I put up a while back:

When I tried [feeding the cable back through the hole] on my 20V, I kept hitting something under the floor that wouldn't allow the long metallic end of the steering cable to make it through far enough...turns out it was the gas tank. Before you freak out and go cutting new holes in the floor, take a look at the gas tank (assuming you have easy access to it by removing the floor panel like I did). There are 4 small black brackets with 2 screws each that hold the tank in place. Unscrew them, and voila - you can slide the tank back towards the stern about 6 inches (plenty to get the steering cable through). Don't forget to slide the tank back into place, and hopefully you were able to save some time and frustration... (PS - even with gas in it, it's not impossible to move).

[hunter]

help 2008 22ve

travis5550 i read that post of yours and tried that but is seems as though my gas tank must be bigger or some thing because i slid it back and still do not have room. if there is any way to take the tank out i am all ears because i drained my tank and it would be easy to pick up if it did not catch on the sides and front of the tank. has anyone ever pulled the tank on 2008 22ve?

[tbag]

Hey everyone!! Wanted to say thanks for all the posts on this subject. You gave a who doesn't even change his own oil in his truck the courage and instructions to complete this project. Ive got a 01' 21i that I have babied since I got it. All maintenance before this was done by a friend who worked in the boat shop where I bought my boat. He replaced the steering cable once about 5 years ago and my "friend" charged me almost $600 bucks. Last summer I could tell the steering was getting much stiffer, but made it through knowing I was going to change it in the Spring.. I ended up getting the Teleflex Extreme and the size in the boat already was a 15' foot so thats what I got. Looked around a bit and it cost me under $125.00.
The operation went fairly smooth, considering I'm not a mechanic. Took me about an hour and a half including clean up, and it was just me working on it. There were several suggestions to have a guide line attached as you pull the old cable out, but ended up not needing it, just pushed it through.
Anyway, thanks again for all the info! Next up is the impeller!

[tige-1]

Did you use a 21' cable?

[tige-1]

Sorry, for a 24ve do you use a 21' cable? Thanks

[akdoc]

I emailed Tige directly about the steering cable for a 2006 24ve, here is the response:

The steering cable length will be a 21' cable with a Teleflex item number of SSC13421

I bought the cable from marine parts source for about 125 bucks shipped. I put it in yesterday, the hardest part is getting it pulled past the front of the gas tank. It is also a pretty good reach to get the bolt out of the rudder, but doable. We were stuck a bunch of time trying to pull the cable, but kept working it around and it finally went around the gas tank. We were about to remove the gas tank brackets and slide it back when it finally pulled through.

Wish Tige would have put in a mid boat hull drain, our 24ve seems to always hold water mid hull unless you can get the boat on a steep grade it just doesn't drain.

[renegil]

How long of a steering cable is required in a 2006 24ve need to get mine replaced? And is there a certain place i should get it from? THANKS

[akdoc]

See the post above yours. I just replaced mine last weekend. Same exact boat as yours.