North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Can anyone shed any light on what's involved in cleaning/replacing the steering cable. It has got really hard to steer to the point I worry something may snap. Can it be cleaned out or does another whole new cable have to be fitted?
By the way I only ever spray the steering rod lightly with lanolin then wipe it down, I do not spray lube around willy nilly.

Trust me buy a hydralic unit, the difference is like night and day and it wont let you down out in the middle of nowhere.
My cable steering snapped on my old boat after experiencing issues like you describe leaving me nearly stranded, only just made it back to the boat ramp. If its got to that point you need to replace the cable - but it will fsck up again and you'll be back at square one.

Hey fishfinatic, if your going to the trouble of removing the cable, I wouldn't muck around, just replace it. If its getting tight its time to go.

Not a bad job, just need to know the length of your cable.

Nath, a cable will last a long time if its maintained and the boat isn't left sitting for six month. I recon I've heard more stories of people blowing hoses or had a leaking steering cyl than siezed cables. If you have a big donk I'd go for Hydraulic but for small motors cable for me.

The cable snapped 40k of dundee in my last rig and straight away invest in hydro steering.
Not sure how much the cable cost to replace but purely for peace of mind it worth the 1k investment.

Well happy to announce the cable steering is all fixed - the steering is lighter than my car power steering
Overall it was quite easy just bl..dy messy, the back of the boat and transducer is covered in CRC, grease and muck.
I wont go on too much about it as I spent half an hour typing up a full report of what I did, what I found etc only to have it disappear when I pressed the Preview button
If anyone wants any advice or assistance I am more than willing to help.
ps managed to get all the free play out of my steering (has been in the steering ever since a well known boat dealership installed the cable steering).
In summary if I can do it with my limited mechanical aptitude anyone can

Hi Fishfanatic,

Good stuff. Always good to hear a DIY job that turns out better than the original 'professional' installation.

BTW, have you fixed the winch post and the SlowLux yet?

BTW, have you fixed the winch post and the SlowLux yet?

Trier the slowlux is back on the road...the crack in the base of the trailer winchpost will be getting done this week. Just gotta find a local welder....

Good going fixing the steering,I used to have cable then fitted hydraulic which is ok but up a tight creek give me cable any day