gear shift cables kaput

[DaveC426913]

Well, I've been complaining about how difficult it is to move the stick shift. I sure isn't difficult anymore...

Shift cable sleeve broke. Now I can move the shifter all I want - but to no avail. It's stuck in Fwd.

It happened right as we were coming in to dock. The Admiral was at the helm and if she hadn't kept her cool when the boat wouldn't stop I might have instructed her to give it power in reverse - which would have driven Sea Saw right up on the dock.

But she didn't gun it and I was able to hold the boat still while she shut off the motor.


Now what??

I've got to figure out WHAT cables they are, WHERE to get replacements, and HOW to replace them (or WHO will do it if I can't).

Dowsar Marine in Hamilton says they can get cables but have to have the number off the cables. I couldn't see any.

Can anyone advise? I'm sure I'll get the right cables eventually, but all the back and forth to get and install them might eat up a week or more if I don't get a move on.

It's a 2001 MacX with a Honda BF50A.

Help!

[Crikey]

Chances are the cables are matched to the throttle control pod. If they are OEM then a number will reveal the replacement for Dowsar. You should be able to find a lower friction replacement on the Teleflex.com site that will work with your installation regardless. Then you also need to match the length - mentioned here many times. Not too hard to DIY!

Ross

[DaveC426913]

Chances are the cables are matched to the throttle control pod. If they are OEM then a number will reveal the replacement for Dowsar.

So I should get pix inside the control column? And the number should be there too?

You should be able to find a lower friction replacement on the Teleflex.com site that will work with your installation regardless.

Teleflex.com looks like a medical supply site. I tried to look around for cables. No joy.

Then you also need to match the length - mentioned here many times. Not too hard to DIY!

Ross

Maybe not hard, but sounds like my weekend is going to be spent repairing and not sailing... And that's if I get the cables soon enough...

[K9Kampers]

LINK to Teleflex Marine
Click button for the Catalog PDF, the go to Page 194 for cables. Try looking on the middle of the cable length for mfg numbers, in the aft berth between helm & transom.

[bjmeunier]

I just replace my shifter cable, but, on a Tohatsu. It's not hard at all, total time, 2 hours start to finish. The numbers of the cable were about halfway down, as K0kampers said. Do not throw the old one away until you get the new one as you will need the end pieces...Good luck

[opie]

LINK HERE FOR TELEFLEX

I got my cables at Cabelas for the best price. Worked great and easy to install for me.

Read this thread, good information HERE

There are other threads here about how long to get the cables. After replacing the cables twice, I am sure it was because of the stress of tilting the motor up and down. So now I only tilt the motor up until the cables just touch the steering arm and then stop the tilt. The skeg is still in the water but I do not care. Plus, I ordered long enough cable so that there was no strain upon turning the motor from port to starboard, full lock-to-lock. See this link.

[Crikey]

I assumed all along that your Honda BF had a honda throttle control and an exact cable replacement would rely more on length matching than anything else. It would still be possible that the PO should have made use of a longer length (12ft?) and if you suspect that to be the case when looking at the sharpness of the bends both inside, and outside the boat, go for a few feet more. You can always accomodate any excess in a wider curve inside the rear.
I won't say Honda gear is bad but Teleflex (Canada) makes very good refit products that have lower friction and adaptable to most products on the market.

And yes ..... it does look like you'll be doing the rear berth bake sale for a while this weekend! Park in the shade

Ross

[opie]

This is how I ended up routing the lines. I don't remember how long I ordered them. Run a tape measure or other means to find your needed length. I think I went 14 or 15 feet, but don't count on that, my memory is going fast.

(on edit, I went to Cabelas and got this, where I ordered both cables at once, record. But still, measure your own needs, please.)
Thank you for your recent order. We appreciate your shopping at Cabela's and hope that you had an enjoyable shopping experience.

Products Ordered

2 of 02-0957 TELEFLEX ENGINE CONTROL CABLE 3300 TFXTREME, 15'
Shipped-05/13/10

Total

Merchandise = $69.98
Postage = $10.95
ORDER TOTAL = $80.93

Payment Types Used On This Order

[tompolak]

I have the honda bf50A and I replaced them this spring. I ordered them from boatersworld.com (they are higher priced now and out of stock). 13' was plenty of cable. Order two and replace the shifter and the throttle. They are very simple to replace and they just screw on. Take the motor cover off and there are three bolts where the cables come into the motor. Once those are off you simply lift the top plate holding them off. The cables are now loose and able to be taken out and replaced. The same applies to the shifter/throttle control box, just a slightly different setup. Be sure and try to count the threads and you will get them back near the spot they are currently. Do a little testing to make sure that everything is working and you are set.

These cables have been great so far this season.

Products ordered
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80825076.htm
Item #ProductItem priceQuantity:Total

TEL CCX63313Teleflex 3300 TFXtreme Control Cable 13' $30.71 2$61.42
Subtotal: $61.42
Shipping cost: $12.14

Total: $73.56

[DaveC426913]

There are other threads here about how long to get the cables.

I measured. They are 10ft long.

After replacing the cables twice, I am sure it was because of the stress of tilting the motor up and down. So now I only tilt the motor up until the cables just touch the steering arm and then stop the tilt. The skeg is still in the water but I do not care. So now I only tilt the motor up until the cables just touch the steering arm and then stop the tilt.

Interestingly, my cables pass under the steering arm. That means they are unders stress when the motor is down, and not under stress when the motor up - exactly opposite to yours.

[DaveC426913]

This is how I ended up routing the lines. I don't remember how long I ordered them. Run a tape measure or other means to find your needed length. I think I went 14 or 15 feet, but don't count on that, my memory is going fast.

Hm. Maybe that's better. Mine were 10 ft but if I added another 2ft I could put that loop in them. I like that.

They can get them overnight at the local engine shop for ~$60 each.

[mk1]

looking at pictures in this thread I have noticed the two ways to route teleflex cables, I call them "above" and "below" the steering cross bar. I have tried both and neither works very well. I have exactly the same set up, honda 50 hp, 26X made in 2002, same cross bar and all. I will post my picture later after I clean up the mess a little.

If I place teleflex cables above steering bar I cannot lift the motor up. The cables hit the bar. When sailing I have half the prop in the water creating a drag.

If I place teleflex cables under the bar, I cannot lower the motor all the way down, the cables hit the bar. This makes it impossible to run ful throttle, the motor is trimmed too high.

Either way the cross bar interferes with the cables and make them bend at a sharp angle and this is what causes them to fail. No wonder so many people are having a problem, including myself. I had to replace both cables last year.

Has anyone found any solution for this problem?

I guess a differently shaped cross bar could work. I do not see how looping cables would help, they still hit the bar and will bend too sharply. I believe teleflex recommends 8" radius. That is very hard to achieve with this cross bar 12" away. Geometry simply does not work.

[DaveC426913]

Durrr. Store never called. So I don't know whether my cables will be in tomorrow or not. Which means I don't know if i'll be sailing at all this weekend.

Then again, if friends come down and bring their skilled, capable hands, maybe I'll take a chance and go out sans motor...

[Crikey]

I'll keep an eye out for you, if you wash up on this side of Lake Ontario!

[DaveC426913]

Turns out, Eastern Marine did me a huge favour by not calling. Other stores wanted to have the cable in-hand for a match, so that forced me to remove them.

I walk into Dowsar marine and slap the old cables down and ask for repalcements - 10ft.
They say: "they're 14ft".
I say: "Nope. They're 10. I measured."
They say: "See here, printed on the cable: One Four feet"
I say: "..."

So, even though it took 5 hours so far, (2 to remove, 3 to drive around the country looking for a place that stocks cables), I've got the right cables and I'm all ready to finish them. Tomorrow.