TOPIC: steering cable Q?

I am about to replace my steering cables. I looked at the older posts and it seems 3/16 coated is the way to go. I compared a samll piece of the 3/16 to the original cables and it looks twice as big. Just wondering if I missed something.

kewpie79,

there are at least 3 sizes of plastic-covered cables. - my BIG old Razorback utility had (i think i remember correctly from 20+ years ago) 5/16" cables.

yours,satx

I have some pieces here that I just measured and most steering setups take the 3/16th cable that is plastic covered with an outside diameter of 3/16th. Some wire is measured at close to 5/16th outside diameter with the plastic cover. I find the smaller of the two is easyer to wind on the spool and run through the cable clamps. Hope that helps you. Skip.

I guess I'll stick with the 3/16, just wasn't sure. The 3/16 does fit snug in the pulley's.

Any boat dealer , even WEST MARINE can get you the right stuff.

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It is called ----" Tiller Cable"

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Clothes line stuff just is not the same.

I just went through this. The cable is measured after the plastic coating is on. So a 3/16" cable may have 1/16" of cable plastic coating and 1/8" of actual metal cable inside. I found with the pulleys I have that the outside dimension of the cable including is plastic coating worked out best with a total dia. of 3/16"

Right, I have seen 3/16 cable with at least two different diameters of metal inside!

I used Galvanized and found a cable with an equal load rating of what west marine sells.. was at least half the price with the same specs. I think I got it at Lowe's.