replacing steering cable on mercruiser 470 alpha one outdrive

[thedockboy]

I am replacing a snapped sterring cable on a 1979 Grady White 21.5 foot boat. Mercruiser 470 Alpha one outdrive Unhooked easy from steering wheel end after looosening coupling bolt. Did the same on the outdrive end but cannot get the cable out. Pull hard and about a foot more of cable comes out but does not dislodge from steering sleeve it is in. Is the cable attached to something else within the sleeve? Does the outdrive need to be pulled to replace cable? Any info. would be appreciated, first time dealing with a cable issue.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: replacing steering cable on mercruiser 470 alpha one outdrive

More likely the cable broke because the cable is corroded within the guide tube.Heat and pipe wrenches or guide tube replacement.

 

[thedockboy]

Re: replacing steering cable on mercruiser 470 alpha one outdrive

no- you can see where the cable broke - right where it elbows behind the battery.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: replacing steering cable on mercruiser 470 alpha one outdrive

Usually you just remove the nut that is on the cable and pull it out of the tube.Corrosion usually holds that part of the steering cable in the guide tube.

 

[dccordell]

Re: replacing steering cable on mercruiser 470 alpha one outdrive

When mine was corroded/stuck in the sleeve, I ended up using a long brass drift pin and a hammer to tap it out from the other end. I wouldn't beat on it too hard because you don't want to mushroom the end so that it won't even fit through the sleeve. If you could get a piece of wooden dowel that would fit inside the sleeve, that would probably work just as well.. that's if you have the room inside the boat to get at it with a hammer, and depends on how stuck it really is.

Make sure you clean the tube real good before you put the new cable in so it will slide smoothly...

 

[thedockboy]

Re: replacing steering cable on mercruiser 470 alpha one outdrive

Got it out thanks for info- cable has following numbers on it...T 18 FT 09 or T 18 FT C9. Any ideas of where to get replacement cable/what numbers previous code is?