[C320-list] Tightening Steering Cable

[Dennis Cookson]

Clay,

I’m preparing to replace the whole steering chain and cable assembly on our boat shortly and have been looking carefully at the Edson quadrant. The cable clamps you refer to are on the take-up eyes which thread through the radial disk from above, but are adjusted and secured by two 1/2” nuts on the underside.  This where you would normally adjust the wire tension by loosening the outer nut first on each side, and tightening the inner nut as required before locking them together again.  

As far as I can see the cable clamps could not possibly be adjusted while in place - there is insufficient access. When they were installed, they would have been fixed to the cables just behind the ‘eye’ of each rod before they are threaded into place from the top of the radial. If you don’t have sufficient scope to tension your cables using the adjustment nuts below, you may have to remove one or both take-up eyes and reposition the clamp(s). But there is approx 3” of adjustment on each take-up eye!

This article might help:  https://c320.org/article.php/20081024195231924 <https://c320.org/article.php/20081024195231924>. It’s also partly the reason I’m replacing my cables now even though they are working ok - they might be original and hence 20 years old.

Dennis Cookson
#577



> On 5 Mar 2021, at 16:51, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Clay,
> I did my adjustment (and readjustment...hence the note about adjusting both
> sides) from the aft cabin and as I recall I could see well enough to get
> the job done. I used a couple of 1/2" wrenches as I recall...could be wrong
> about the size. I did find that laying a boat cushion on the mattress up
> against the bulkhead helped with the frame digging into my ribs...
> 
> Fair Winds,
> Chris Burti
> Commitment #867
> Farmville, NC
> 
> 
> On Fri, Mar 5, 2021 at 8:07 AM Clay Carter <fclaycarter at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> Thanks Chris and those who have responded.  I’m actually referring to the
>> space above the rudder post where the cable clamps are.  I cannot really
>> easily see nor access them.  What tools do you use for this?
>> 
>> Clay Carter
>> 
>>> On Mar 4, 2021, at 6:27 PM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> It isn’t so tiny…I’m 6’2” 250 lbs and can get in and out pretty well at
>> 70…but that said, the cable can also be adjusted with a couple of wrenches
>> while in the aft berth with your arm through the aft lazarette hatch. Note…
>> you need to adjust both sides an equal number of turns or your wheel center
>> spoke will be off center.
>>> 
>>> Loosen the nut on the cable side of the fitting and tighten the outside
>> nut on each side to tighten the cable. You might want to check with Edson
>> for professional advice on tensioning.
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Chris Burti
>>> Commitment #867
>>> Farmville, NC
>>> 
>>> From: Crosby Roper
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 9:07 PM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Tightening Steering Cable
>>> 
>>> I think you need to go into the space aft of the aft cabin and approach
>> it from there. Edson was very helpful when I need to adjust my steering
>> cable tension. I'd give them a call.
>>> 
>>> Crosby  Roper VMD
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
>> Clay Carter <fclaycarter at yahoo.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 5:36 PM
>>> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>>> Subject: [C320-list] Tightening Steering Cable
>>> 
>>> If your 320 is not equipped with an emergency tiller kit, I suggest you
>> invest in one.  I lost my steering in heavy weather/seas as a result of the
>> cable being too loose and coming off the pulley on top of the rudder post.
>> Now I'm trying to figure out how to loosen the cable clamps and tighten the
>> cables within this tiny, tight space.  Does anybody have
>> experience/suggestions about how to go about this?
>>> Thanks.
>>> Clay CarterWe'll Sea #225Alamitos Bay, CA
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>>