[C320-list] Throttle Cable Stiff

Mon Jun 15 18:32:09 PDT 2020

Hi all, 
This thread on stiff throttle cables was extremely timely.  Thank you for all the suggestions!
The short story is that I just spent a lot of hours installing a new Raymarine wheel autopilot.  I knew I'd have to lower the instrument pod and did so (learned that on this site!).  My ex was helping and when we went to unscrew the top bolt of the pod from the binnacle it was frozen.  Without much thought he cut off the frozen bolt.  This was in hour #5 of the autopilot install.  Fast forwarding to hour 31 (yes hour 31), we sadly discovered that this bolt serves two purposes.  One is to hold the instrument pod in place and the other is to hold the cable anchor in place on the INSIDE of the binnacle.  (Insert many expletives here.)  

My ex wanted to cut a hole in the binnacle to access the cable anchor but that didn't work for me.  I decided to hire someone to take apart the binnacle, replace the cable anchor and replace the throttle and gear cables as a preventive measure.  While the cables work great they are 20 years old and have never been changed.  

Here's the question:  The guy I thought I hired to help me do this work is not returning calls and is now suddenly very busy.  I don't think he wants to do the work.  I have not done this before and am not comfortable doing it myself. Maybe it's the multiple posts that state DO NOT DROP ANYTHING INSIDE THE BINNACLE that has me worried. I live in Seattle and my boat is at Shilshole Bay Marina.  Does anyone in this neighbor know of someone I could hire to help me?  Better yet, is there anyone in my area who has done this before and can either help or give some advice?  

Thanks all!  I love your posts and information.  I've learned so much. 

Sara Schroeder
Wandering Star
#707/2000

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re: Throttle Cable stiff (Chris Burti)
>    2. Re: Throttle Cable stiff (Doug Treff)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 31 May 2020 17:24:37 -0400
> From: Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Throttle Cable stiff
> Message-ID: <C8ADC756-E001-4883-B365-7451D94ED9DC at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> ??
> 
> Best Regards,
> Chris Burti
> Commitment #867
> 
> > On May 31, 2020, at 12:40 PM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > 
> > ?Chris is the man...  That was it.  Took the clip pin off the cable and the arm was stiff.  Some lube there and working it back and forth loosened it up.  Put off new cables for another day.
> > NOTE: the reason it was "sticky" (I think) was a slight/slow leak from the hose directly above it.  Fixed the leak a while back but some residue was still there.
> > Thanks again.  saved me a big project.  I just assumed it was the cables.  Never assume.....
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net C (919)- 819-9794
> > 
> > 
> >    On Sunday, May 31, 2020, 11:43:06 AM EDT, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:  
> > 
> > Scott,
> > I dealt with this issue yesterday on Commitment. It turned out that my cables were in great shape but the throttle arm on the Yanmar engine block was freezing up. I disconnected the cable and used a wrench to work it back and forth soaking it with lube until it was free and the return spring was operating properly again. 
> > 
> > Next project will be to open it up and make sure it is cleaned up internally and properly greased.  
> > 
> > Best Regards,
> > Chris Burti
> > Commitment #867
> > 
> >> On May 31, 2020, at 10:52 AM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >> 
> >> ?Hi Scott:
> >> 
> >> I did this a while ago. I recommend replacing both cables while you?re doing this. You don?t want to do it twice. Here are extensive notes I posted on the procedure:
> >> 
> >> Wow. What an ordeal. I finally got the throttle and shifter cables properly installed, but Edson and Catalina get no points for me on design. Would an access plate to the innards of the pedestal be too much to ask, considering these cables should be changed every seven years?
> >> 
> >> But it is nice not to be struggling with gummy, loose controls anymore. 
> >> 
> >> Here are some notes, in case anyone else wants to endure this:
> >> 
> >> ? A piece of string, a long flathead screwdriver, an old coat hanger  and a flashlight are your best friends on this project. These are what you use to manipulate the cables inside the pedestal.
> >> ? My cables were tied every foot or so through the aft cabin and the aft port locker. It?s good to get these out of the way first. Then disconnect them from the engine, remove the steering wheel and take off the compass and related parts. Also, disconnect the cables from the levers and DON?T DROP THE PARTS.
> >> ? Next, if you have the Yanmar, take off the face of the instrument pod and find the nut up at the top. This is the anchor for the cables inside the pedestal. Remove the nut, push the bolt into the pedestal and try not to worry.
> >> ? I then took off the housing for the steering in the aft cabin and pushed the cables up. Another bad design: The cables come up on either side of the wheel shaft, but they are connected with a plastic bracket with bolt below the shaft.
> >> ? Tie the string to one of the cables, then push it down and use the screwdriver to push it toward the other side of the shaft,. Use the coat hanger to snag the string and bring it up.
> >> ? Once you have both cables on one side, yank the hell out of them until you see the white plastic bracket. Then use the screwdriver to pry it up. This takes muscles and time but, eventually, you will get it past the sprocket and shaft. 
> >> ? After removing the bracket, I pulled the cables down without attaching string, as some do. I found it relatively easy to route the new cables up the pedestal without it. Tape the cables together, though, so they come up on the same side of the shaft.
> >> ? Now the fun begins. Install the bracket on the new cables and tie string on them, then jam it down the same way it came up. It will take time. Once the bracket is below the shaft, use the flashlight to illuminate the hole where the bolt is supposed to go through so you can see where it is..
> >> ? At this point, I had the flashlight on the starboard side of the pedestal and I used the screwdriver on the port side to manipulate the bracket so the bolt would go in the hole. This was an ordeal. It took me 30 to 45 minutes of cursing, but I  finally did it. Put the nut on the bolt immediately and tighten it. You do not want to do this twice!
> >> ? Now you have to use the string and coat hanger to get one of the cables on the other side of the shaft. After that, you can connect the cables to the levers and reassemble the compass. You can also reassemble the instrument pod and wheel.
> >> ? After that, more scut work as you reroute the cables through the after port locker and back into the aft cabin. 
> >> ? Test the cables to make sure you are connecting the correct ones to the throttle and shifter. If you switched them somehow, it?s not a big deal, especially if you use 14-foot cables for both. (Wrap any extra cable in a circle in the bilge and tie it with cable ties.
> >> ? The shifter is counter-intuitive. When it goes forward, it?s reverse. When it goes after, it?s forward. 
> >> Jack Brennan
> >> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> >> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> >> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> >> 
> >> From: Scott Westwood
> >> Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 9:18 AM
> >> To: 320
> >> Subject: [C320-list] Throttle Cable stiff
> >> 
> >> I have a '98 C320 and the throttle cable needs lubing.  I assume I have to take the Compass housing off to get at the top portion?  The rest is easy access.  
> >> Doesn't look too difficult to do. (ignorance?)  I just want to be sure before I take anything apart around the pedestal housing.
> >> Any input?
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Thanks,
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net C (919)- 819-9794
> >> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2020 09:37:11 -0400
> From: "Doug Treff" <doug at treff.us>
> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Throttle Cable stiff
> Message-ID: <0ba785b3-5a45-41ff-939e-694f6d17fbbc at www.fastmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=utf-8
> 
> When I did mine, I used the procedure outlined here. Obviously the boat is a different make, but it's the Edson procedure that is most difficult. Pictures help a lot.
> 
> If you can round up a volunteer to help, it makes things go easier. And like others, I recommend replacing both cables, since the added cost of a new cable isn't that great in the grand scheme, and you'll be saved from kicking yourself later that you didn't do them together when the other one fails.
> 
> http://spartina.blogspot.com/2009/05/replacing-throttle-and-shift-cables.html
> 
> --
> Doug Treff
> doug at treff.us
> 
> On Sun, May 31, 2020, at 9:18 AM, Scott Westwood wrote:
> > I have a '98 C320 and the throttle cable needs lubing.? I assume I have 
> > to take the Compass housing off to get at the top portion?? The rest is 
> > easy access.??
> > Doesn't look too difficult to do. (ignorance?)? I just want to be sure 
> > before I take anything apart around the pedestal housing.
> > Any input?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Scott Westwood?scottwestwood at bellsouth.net C (919)- 819-9794
> >
> 
> 
> End of C320-list Digest, Vol 3736, Issue 1
> ******************************************