Need length of shift cable 26X Bigfoot 50HP

[Bill ( My Pleasure)]

My boat is a 1999 26X purchased from Arena Yachts in Alameda, California. The motor is a Mercury Bigfoot. The engine control (shift) in an Ultraflex B85. I need to find out the length of the shift cable. The throttle cable works very smoothly, but theboat is very very difficult to shift. The boat is located in a slip about 65 miles from here (one way) I know there should be a length indicated on the cable, but I'm trying to avoid a trip back and forth. Also, has anybody tried using the premium cables from Teleflex. Last time I had my motor worked on they told me that the shift is always stiff. It was already stiff when they (not Arena)got through with the engine and worse than I thought it should be. Now it is nearly unmovable. Maybe someone else who bought his boat at the same place or has a boat with a similar set-up could help. Thanks!! Bill

[opie]

The cable comes in different lengths as I am sure you have read about here before. Different lengths just means a different bend radius here and there.

I would recommend that you buy one of each length that WM has that you think is close, even if that means 4 or 5 purchased. And then take back what you do not need. I am sure the store would be OK with that.

[DaveB]

I just went thru this mess after 2 cable returns, my final was the 13ft. Zerofriction Control Cables from Uflex. I bought them from Fisheries supply.
WWW.fisheriessupply .com
The Blue cable has a radius of 4 inch bend were others 8 inch.
I replaced same brand but added 1 ft. to 13ft. and much smoother action (like power steering controls) in both throttle and Shift this gave me a 12inch loop inside the steering pedistal. Replace both same time. My original was 12ft. same cable
Fisherie ID # ULT MCOX13
13ft CO Zerofriction Control Cable ($43.84 each cable) $99.19 for both cables includeing shipping.
Dave

My boat is a 1999 26X purchased from Arena Yachts in Alameda, California. The motor is a Mercury Bigfoot. The engine control (shift) in an Ultraflex B85. I need to find out the length of the shift cable. The throttle cable works very smoothly, but theboat is very very difficult to shift. The boat is located in a slip about 65 miles from here (one way) I know there should be a length indicated on the cable, but I'm trying to avoid a trip back and forth. Also, has anybody tried using the premium cables from Teleflex. Last time I had my motor worked on they told me that the shift is always stiff. It was already stiff when they (not Arena)got through with the engine and worse than I thought it should be. Now it is nearly unmovable. Maybe someone else who bought his boat at the same place or has a boat with a similar set-up could help. Thanks!! Bill

[Bill ( My Pleasure)]

Thanks for the good answers and suggestions. We went to my boat yesterday. I brought along a neighbor that works on race cars. He determined that it was lack of lubrication in the shifting control. The control had to be partially removed and lubed with white lithium grease, which was taken off places where it was in excess. Cable replacement wasn't needed. It works as smooth as it ever did. The cable for the shifting was marked CTF12C510 (the C might be a zero and the one might be a 7) I'm guessing that what I have is correct. If my numbers are correct, the length is probably 10 feet. Before the lubing the shift was too stiff to shift at all. Just about everything I read about stiff shifting said that the cable must be bad. It turns out that my cable was OK. Thanks again ! Bill

[Bill ( My Pleasure)]

Look at my last post. The cable length may be either 12 or 10 feet depending on low the code on the model number works.