Replacing steering cable

[plaiming]

i have a 1999 21v that will soon need a new steering cable. i have received conflicting information as to whether this is a feasible owner repair. apparently, the gas tank is positioned in such a way to require it to be lifted out to replace and route the steering cable. has anyone replaced a cable on a v-drive without doing this? im just curious why you cant disconnect the old one, pull a rope through, and attach the new one and pull that through?

[Tip]

Is it normal to need a new cable after only five years? -Tip

[plaiming]

im not sure its normal, but from what i've heard, my year boat (1999) was engineered in such a way that the pooling water in the bottom of the boat slowly washes out the lubrication in the sealed cable, more so that in a boat where the cable was routed a different way. i only know of this second hand from a friend who had his 21v cable replaced under warranty because the steering got so difficult to turn. ours has been pretty bad for several years but we have just chosen to live with it. all i know for sure is that our steering is pretty bad and needs to be fixed.

[Tip]

That's unfortunate. What year is your friend's 21v?

Good luck with you new cable. -Tip

[plaiming]

same as mine, 1999. it was a couple years back he had this done.

[shane]

I have a 1999 2200V. I just had the steering cable greased this year. I have not experienced any steering problems, knock on wood. How did you know the cable was bad?

[plaiming]

the steering is so tight it takes two hands to turn the wheel. perhaps we could have gotten away with greasing the cable, but we've let it go so long its probably beyond that point now....

[Matt Garcia]

Have you checked your rudder? I had the same issue as you (took two hands to turn the wheel) and while I thought it was just the cable I was totally wrong. Turns out that I had a bent rudder and shaft. I only noticed it while turning the boat and nothing else. Don’t know if the previous owner left it like that or if it was something I did but either way it is fixed now.

[plaiming]

was it noticably bent? ill take a look again today but i dont think it is. anyway, has anyone done this steering cable change themselves. maybe i need to post over in the general forum.

[Tige M.D.]

The steering cable in your 21v can be replaced without removing the fuel tank. Just takes some patience. The large nut that holds the cabe to the steering tube under the engine is what tends to give you a fight on its way out. As for the life of a steering cable, 3-5 years is respectible. This depends on how much water is in the bilge and if it is freshwater or saltwater.

[plaiming]

great, so you are saying that the service guys that told me the gas tank would need to be removed are misinformed??

[Matt Garcia]

I had to replace my steering cable along with the other stuff that and the gas tank did not have to be removed.

[plaiming]

cool, ill let you all know how it goes....do you remember the length of the cable you bought?

if there are any other tips before i get started (best cable to use, tools,etc..) id love to hear them...

[Matt Garcia]

plaiming, the dealer did all the work. Sorry I couldn't help out.

[Tige M.D.]

1999 21v takes a 17' rotary cable. The original cable is made by Morse. They closed their doors a couple of years ago. The new cable will be from Teleflex.

tools: fish tape. cresent wrench, 7/16" wrench, needle nose pliers, electrical tape, and patience, lots of patience.

Do not remove the tube that the cable goes through under the engine, just the large nut that hold the cable to it. Removing the 4 bolts that clamp the tube to the bottom of the boat will open up a big can of worms for you.

Any more questions call me 909/737-9801 Greg