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Wire Steering (Arlyn's System) Adjustment

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/18/2010 : 21:26:18

I installed Arlyn's wire steering mod two years ago. At the time I got the cables pretty tight. Well, I was just in the back of the boat doing some electric work and I reached up and felt the cable. It was quite loose. Much looser and it could fall off a horizontal sheave. Has anyone else experienced this? I was surprised that a cable could stretch like that. Are others adjusting their cable tension periodically?

We cannot direct the winds but we can adjust our sails.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 06/18/2010 21:26:37

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2010 : 22:23:45

Do you have some sort of idler to adjust the tension? Or do you have to just take the tension up with the sheaves? We've got a tiller, so it's just 1:1.

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windsong
Captain

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Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 04:12:23

The wire rope should not be too tight. In the words of Arlyn, "just firm, so there is no slack."
I defer this question to Arlyn, but if it does need to be tensioned, then you'll need a deep well socket. It's pretty awkward to do with a wrench and a normal depth socket will not fit over the end of the protruding bolt of the tensioner mechanism.
I visually inspect my steering on a regular basis. It's very near the motor and vibration can cause nuts to work loose.

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Arlyn Stewart
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2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 04:19:44

Mine stretched as well. It is normal for wire cables. My experience with cables on communications towers is after the initial stretch (often considerable) and adjustment, there is much less movement.

The stretch is enough that cable clamps will loosen because the cable shrinks in the process so check the cable clamps as they may need tightening but one time should do it on them.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 07:41:39

Thanks all. I already used the built in tensioner to tighten the cables after the installation so I don't have much more capacity there as the two center tensioner sheaves are getting close to the steering arm when the arm is in the centered position. I think I'll need to loosen the two cable clamps that hold the cable to the clevis and then re-tension the cable and then re-fasten the cable clamps. Awkward to work back there but I think that's what I need to do.

Arlyn, I don't see evidence that the cable slipped through the cable clamps due to the cable shrinkage. Looks like it is simply cable stretch.

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windsong
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Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 07:49:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Awkward to work back there but I think that's what I need to do.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It might be easier to remove the rear bulkhead than trying to reposition the eye splice while working through the access door. It's a lesser-of-two-evils deal.

Good luck!

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Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 08:55:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by windsong
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Awkward to work back there but I think that's what I need to do.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It might be easier to remove the rear bulkhead than trying to reposition the eye splice while working through the access door. It's a lesser-of-two-evils deal.

Good luck!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No way would I do this operation through the access door!

I have the bulkhead cut in half just to make access easier to the aft area. One of the better mods. Here's a photo with the starboard side removed. I will probably remove the port side panel too.

I'll need to adjust both cables since they are independent.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 06/19/2010 08:56:52

windsong
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Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 09:35:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">One of the better mods.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree. VERY nice.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2010 : 09:51:50

Here's a photo of the bulkhead with both sides in.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.