For all you boat guys, i have a 21' boat that needs a new steering cable. the mechanic says $250 for the part and $250 for install. I know i can get the part cheaper than $250 online but how easy is this to install? is it worth it to pay a mechanic to do it? boat doesn't have hydraulic steering, just plain old mechanical. anyone done this before or have a general idea how replacement works? thanks!

4/8/2009 7:10:47 PM

YEAR MAKE FUCKING MODEL DAMMIT

4/8/2009 7:17:15 PM

sorry, 1994 wellcraft eclipse 210S with 5.7 (i think) V8 mercruiser motor.

4/8/2009 7:20:50 PM

unhook both ends of the old one. tie string or wire or something to one end of it. pull the old one out. now you have a string or whatever already running the route. tie on the new one and run it on in.

this is much easier said than done. they are stiff and a pain in the ass.

4/8/2009 7:58:05 PM

yeah i figured that a brand new one would be pretty stiff. thanks!

4/8/2009 8:02:39 PM

^^is the way to do it. and it will be a pain, but you can't really screw anything up too bad by trying it yourself first. unless you really try to force something...

4/8/2009 8:10:43 PM

have you tried greasing it? what is the problem?

4/8/2009 8:52:58 PM

should have bought an outboard

4/8/2009 11:45:14 PM

if it is just tight, then there is a grease fitting where it hooks to the power assist box on the transom, pump a good quality marine grease into it while cycling the wheel back and forth and it will work its way up, there is also a slack and center adjustment on the wheel end

4/9/2009 7:58:01 AM

Yeah, try greasing it first, but from what I've seen once the steering gets really hard the cable is shot. Sometimes greasing it is a temporary fix, but it comes back even worse after a short while.

I've never had to replace one. I've heard it can be quite a bitch. I really don't see how, but I trust the opinion of the folks who have told me that. You never know until you try though.

4/9/2009 10:28:52 AM

Quote :

"pump a good quality marine grease"

Green Grease ftw.

4/9/2009 1:00:50 PM

The mechanic that looked at it said its past being able to be greased and needs a new cable. the wheel turns ok to the left but turning to the right you have to put 100% of your body weight and muscle into it.

4/9/2009 4:39:01 PM

yup, pulls fine but doesn't push

its not that hard to do yourself, the only hard part is working up under the console

4/9/2009 5:21:17 PM

Quote :

"the wheel turns ok to the left but turning to the right you have to put 100% of your body weight and muscle into it."

just out of curiosity, is it like this even out of water or does it happen to only do it while cruising down the lake?

4/9/2009 8:31:57 PM

power assist should work either way, and the torque steer shouldnt be that bad, i know what you're getting at

it common on the mercs, left turn pulls the cable, and right turn tries to push it back, ever tried to push a frayed rope trough a small hole?

4/9/2009 8:43:19 PM

yeah it does it in and out of water.

4/9/2009 9:29:16 PM

so buy the cable, worst case you have to get him to put it on and not pay the part markup

4/11/2009 10:42:42 PM