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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Wheel Steering II

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2003 : 20:24:36

The ability to turn to port means that the cable will pull... but not push. The failure could be in one of three areas. Near the 90 degree bend coming out of the pedestal... the inner cable could be pooching out of the jacket when a push load is placed on it or the rod near the end of the cable is bent and not able to extend within a guide or, the set screw holding the cable to the frame within the pedestal could have loosened and is not holding the cable jacket.

If the problem is the set screw...it can be fixed by pulling the pedestal apart and replacing the setscrew and a backup...both locktited. If this is the problem....take the opportunity while the pedestal is apart to adjust the play out of the chain sprocket.

If the cable has failed, there are two options.

1. Buy the modification from Edson to upgrade to a pull pull system (around $500).

2. Modify to the open cable system pictured below (around $50 for materiels).

<img src="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/open%20wire%20steering.jpg" border=0>

http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/steeringcable.html

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - arlyn stewart on 05/26/2003 20:41:19

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2003 : 13:03:16

Received an inquiry about willingness to kit the components for the open wire steering system... Will post the terms of that in the classifides.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

Jack Schafer
Navigator

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USA
112 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2003 : 17:09:01

Tell you what I did. I have 1995 250 with wheel steering and have followed the saga of bent, loose, and broken cables. I personally have had a loose cable repaired by a second set screw at base of shaft and a bent cable at the wheel housing. Last fall I purchased from a fellow member the cables and all attachments of his push/pull system after he upgraded through Edson. I duplicated the the same setup of the Push/pull system on the oposite side of the boat added a chain adapter in the housing to accept the chain connector and added a 4" pin at the tiller bar to hold the two yokes from the cables. I now have a Pull/pull system that is very robust and not very expensive. I have been sailing all spring and the steering is really responsive and no play!
Jack Schafer 2nd Wind

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2003 : 17:30:45

Jim, lack of starboard turn capability means that the cable wont work in the push mode but will in the pull mode. It could be one of two things... the setscrew holding the cable jacket to the framwork within the pedestal has worked loose or the wire is pooching out of the jacket when pushed.

If the latter...the system will need to be replaced with either an Edson pull pull system upgrade or an open wire system as I'm offering... see swap section.

If the problem is the set screw loosening it will take dissasembly of the pedestal to correct. Use two short set screws...using locktite, install the first and then back up with the second.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

jmorrical
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2003 : 23:40:11

Arlyn,

Thanks for the information. That gives me a clear understanding of how it works. Will I need to disconnect the cable at the rudder arm in order to free the assembly enough to lift it out of the pedestal? DougA's instructional post to the forum had a good picture of the chain sprocket being removed in his upgrade project. I am hoping it is only the set screw.

Jim Morrical
Trilogy III
250WK #401

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2003 : 00:46:29

Jim,

Pulling the pedestal apart is a real pain. I would first inspect the cable for the pooching. If it is the problem, it will show at the tight turn coming out of the pedestal. The inner wire will pooch out of the jacket. If the set screw is the problem... the whole jacket may move when the wheel is turned to the right.

If the pedestal has to come apart, yes... the cable has to be released from the steering arm and the transom mount so that the cable can be pushed out of the pedestal as the inner frame within the pedestal is lifted out the top.

The set screws are near the bottom of this frame so it means about two feet or more of cable has to be slid out. This involves dealing with the hard turn coming thru the bulkhead and into the pedestal...not fun.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

jmorrical
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2003 : 00:58:18

Today I repaired my Edson steering. The setscrew holding the cable jacket to the framwork within the pedestal had worked loose. I found the cable in good shape with no indication of weekness. I removed the rear panel in the aft birth for easy access. I did'nt disconnect the rudder from the cable, but just freed the control cable brass fitting on the transom. That allowed enough slack in the cable to pull it thru the pedestal high enough to inspect the mechanism. No money spent!!

Jim Morrical
Trilogy III
250WK #401

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2003 : 07:22:48

No money spent <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> but those of us who've been there know that it took some effort.

The analogy is not identical...but a broken boat is like having a sick child... leaves one feeling unsettled until their well.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

Rubin Hawkins
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2003 : 08:59:32

I had wheel steering installed before I took possession. Seems to me that if something works it self loose then an application of Lock Tite or Vibra Tite are in order. This is especially true where proper operation is dependent on the screw staying in place. I feel the need to take mine apart and find the key mechanical points. Mine is only a month old and has less than 5 hours use but at some point soon I am going to need to lubricate something....somewhere. Any advise on lubrication. I was thinking white teflon lubricant. Any opinions on that?

Rubin
Windy Joy
C250 WB #591

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2003 : 13:48:37

Rubin,

If you have the pull pull, then there is no set screw problem to be had within the base of the pedestal. Maintenance would be to lubricate the cables... and adjust any play out of the system.

I don't know about the lubricant... it was reported to the forum that the cables have a special materiel within that requires a certain grease... if someone doesn't have the answer... then contact Edson. They also have greasing adapters to install on the cables.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

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