TOPIC: Another question about drum and cable steering

I have posted several messages and have had great results from the information gained....so I am coming back to the well one more time! I have been redoing the steering cable on my 67 crest liner. I just purchased it this winter and on my initial run the steering would sometimes bind. Looking under the dash I could see that the coating had been stripped on some of the cable and one side of the cable had jumped out of the grooves. Went to the depot, bought some cable and started the installation. The current installation had the cables feeding off the top of the drum. I copied that. Once installed I turned the wheel. Steering was still not smooth and when I checked under the dash the cable had already jumped out of the groove. I reversed the setup so the cables came from the bottom of the drum. The steering was smooth and the cables stayed in the grooves. It just lines up better since the drum is at an angle from the dash...not perpendicular but....the steering direction was the opposite of what it should be. This leads me to believe that the drum was installed backwards at some point. It seems odd because the boat has been meticulously maintained. You all have any ideas? Thanks b

I think you are following the drum~cable setup as it looked when you got the boat. From your description, it sounds like it was setup incorrectly.

Here's a cable steering setup diagram:


Cable comes off drum on the top for 1 side & the bottom for the other.

Thanks for the sketch!

?????--That sketch is funny to say the least.----Will not work that way.

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Both cables come off the top on a properly working system.

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Note the proper cable to use is called " tiller cable "

After looking at the sketch more, I agree with you. If the cables are coming off the top on one side and the bottom of the other...wouldn't the cable have to be split? Going back to my original assessment that I need to take the drum off and flip it 180 degrees.

This what my Winner drum looked like. Taken from under the dash. If it helps you. This was right before I took cables off.

The way the sketch shows it both cables would tighten up if turned one way.--Both cables would loosen if turned the other way.

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No need to split the cable at all.

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Take a look at this and see if pulleys in the front are properly placed to keep from rubbing the cover off.

It was late, you all are correct, the cable should feed on & off the drum cylinder on the same 'side'.

I meant to have the cable feed 'in' at the top of the drum(close to the dash), wrap around the drum, pass thru a hole between the upper & lower portion of the drum cylinder. Then wrap the rest of the way around the cylinder to the bottom end of the drum (away from dash). Yes, all on the top side of the cylinder(away from the bottom of the hull).

As you turn to port, the upper half of the cable is winding onto the drum, and the lower portion is feeding off the drum.

Turn to starboard & the upper half is feeding off the drum, the lower is winding onto the drum.

The 1st time, it was a frustrating, lengthy process. Once you've done it once or twice, it's still a bit of a mess, but it makes sense and doesn't take nearly as long.

Be sure to check complete 'lock to lock' turning plus center the motor & wheel at neutral before you crimp the cable clamps permanently.

Apologies for the confusion.

Haplife,
Please post a pic of what you are dealing with. Both cables should be coming off of the top. They should also be wound around each grove area 2-3 times if yours is a double grove drum. Your issue may be in the position of your pulleys on each side of the front of the boat, not feeding the tiller line properly.

Regards,
StevieB

Ditto SteieB. Had a boat that the pulley center was slightly out of round from years of use and caused binding. another one where it was chipped and would sometimes cause the line to jump, or partially jump, the pulley

not a problem. I appreciate any help even it's late! I have attached a picture of the drum before I took the old cable off. you can see how it is skewed and that the grooves are also skewed. the one side has come out of the groves. when I put the cable on "backwards" from the original setup..it is smooth and stays in the grove...but steering is opposite. that is what makes me think the drum needs to come off and rotated 180 degrees.

actually thinking about this some more and a few doodles I don't think flipping the drum will make any difference. going to have to spend some more time lying under the dash and figure it out!C

Single length cable should come off the top of the drum in the center ,going to both sides.----The slot in the drum is there for that reason.

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This a sort of measure twice act once installation.

Don't understand what the slot in the drum is for.

Maybe this will help ?????

Larry
Vintage Boatworks

Larry, that help a lot. Thanks for your help. Brian

just want to thank everybody who posted. replaced the steering cable and it working great. this forum is a great resource!