how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

[DHeerts1970]

Hi all,<br /><br />Ok..I was excited...I received my new Teleflex Safe-T QC steering setup in the mail today, and went out to hook it up.<br /><br />the helm, bezel and steering wheel were a piece a cake, as was routing the flex cable. However, once I reached the rear of my boat and center of my 70hp chrysler engine, the push/pull rod on the end of the cable went past the engine about 14 inches. WOAH..what's going on?<br /><br />I measured EXACTLY how the company told me to. I measured from the center of my old steering wheel to the wall of the boat, then back to the rear transom wall, then over to the center of the engine. Then I added 6 inches, and rounded to the nearest foot..which on my boat came to 13 ft. ( it's a 1973 15 foot Crestliner Tri-hull) But this cable seems way too long.<br /><br />I could probably go with a 12 foot flex cable, or even 11.6 foot cable, if they make them in anything other than full foot lengths.<br /><br />What do you guys think? Where did I go wrong?<br /><br />Thanks for any info you can give me<br /><br />Dan H

 

[roscoe]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

I don't know. Maybe your ruler shrunk from laying out in the sun. <br /><br />Or maybe your boat shrunk from getting wet.

 

[Link]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

Dan:<br />Just a thought. Did you check that they sent you the correct cable? Happened to me more than once when ordering cables for customers. <br />Even happened once when buying a cable for my own boat at the marine dealer.. Got everything out to the van and decieded to just check for sure at the last moment before heading home! <br /><br />Now you can go beat roscoe up for being a SA! Not really one must have a since of humor about these things <br /><br />Link

 

[BAINOR]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

A couple of thoughts - when you measured did you go to the inside of the gunwale or outside?<br /><br />If you have received the length cable you ordered, do you have enough room inside the gunwale to take up the slack and get the cable connected to the tilt tube? If so, may not be any problem.

 

[roscoe]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

SA is my second name. Can't help it.<br />Its happened to me too. I have a rubber tape measure.

 

[DJ]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

Dan,<br /><br />A very large loop or a sag in the cable will not hurt it.<br /><br />The sag is preferred. That does not bother the performance because it is attached at each end.

 

[wezie]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

The supplier will most likely swap it for the correct one. One foot lengths only. Don't beat yourself over this one, it is easy to do and happens often.<br />In an emergency only, would I loop the steering cable. The loop cannot be less than 1 ft in diameter, if that, and will add some drag to the steering.<br />Good Luck!

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: how did I measure for steering so WRONG??????

simply make an exaggerated zig zag with the cable, instead of a straight line, will take up the slack and work wonderfully well, just follow the manufacturers suggest minimal radius when doing so<br /><br />if ya dont feel like waiting for the new one!<br /><br />but better TOO BIG than too small, right sharkcat?<br /><br />