what is the normal length of travel of a new steering cable I bought one from a airboat builder in fl and its new but the travel length is just 6 inches I did not check this before I left with it guess that's why I only paid 100.00 dollars for it and he was so eager to get rid of it wont turn rudders far enough ether way second time I have been took on buying parts away from home thanks
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steering cable length
- Thread starter jbtn
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Mine is hooked right on the front of the rudder and that is where the bar that ties the two rudders together is located, I did have to play with the location of where I mounted it to the stick though, I had it too close to the pivot point of the stick and had to work the stick too much to control the boat
Deano
Well-known member
If it is grey and has six inches of travel it is probably a PTO cable. Teleflex marine steering cables all have 8.5" of travel as fas I know. They are black, thicker and stouter but don't come out of the box rigged for airboats, they need modified. Either will work. You simply need to mount the rudder end of the cable closer to the rudder pivot point in in order to get more rudder travel from the same amount of cable travel. (decrease the distance between the mount and pivot points on the rudder)
Where the cable connects (at the rudder end) really won't matter, as long as the hull mount is solid and there is no binding. In other words, it could be mounted to either rudder (usually port) or to the dragbar. Either way will work, just like either top or bottom will work. Both have their perceived advantages and disadvantages.
@Cutler - As far as the rudder stick mounting point, Smuggler has said, and I use and agree that about 17" is a good number for pivot to cable mount distance. Longer will decrease the throw and make it increasingly sensitive. Shorter will be more like power steering, but at the expense of dramatically increasing the amount of throw required to get the job done.
There's a lot to be said for using clamps and mocking it up, but all that should give you starting point that will be close.
Where the cable connects (at the rudder end) really won't matter, as long as the hull mount is solid and there is no binding. In other words, it could be mounted to either rudder (usually port) or to the dragbar. Either way will work, just like either top or bottom will work. Both have their perceived advantages and disadvantages.
@Cutler - As far as the rudder stick mounting point, Smuggler has said, and I use and agree that about 17" is a good number for pivot to cable mount distance. Longer will decrease the throw and make it increasingly sensitive. Shorter will be more like power steering, but at the expense of dramatically increasing the amount of throw required to get the job done.
There's a lot to be said for using clamps and mocking it up, but all that should give you starting point that will be close.
thanks deano for the info yes the cable I bought when I was down there is gray it does have a wrinkle finish just under 6 inches of travel so I have caned that idea am now trying to build a bell crank system going to try and build a aluim plate triangle using 2 pillow bearings little hard to get the right numbers on where the holes should go but I will get it thanks jbtn
Thanks, that's good to know, yes mine is all clamped and I'll check the distance, yes it was like power steering before and very hard to control, I didn't like it at all and had even considered getting rid of the boat because of it. I don't know what my measurement is but I'll check it out whenever I can get to where my boat is
@deano , I know it's bee a while since we were talking about this but I have a question about your reply to me, you said 17" is good from the pivot point, this might be a stupid question but my cable has to hook above the pivot not below because of te way I have things connected. Does this matter? I know it's different because of leverage. Just curious?
Deano
Well-known member
That is exactly how mine is; pivot point is at bottom of rudder stick, cable mounted x" inches above that, with the other far end of the cable mounted in front of the rudder pivot point. Works just as you would expect.
If the cable mount is below the pivot point on the rudder stick, the other far end will need to be mounted behind the pivot point of the rudders, not in the front (or the steering action will be backwards).
If the cable mount is below the pivot point on the rudder stick, the other far end will need to be mounted behind the pivot point of the rudders, not in the front (or the steering action will be backwards).