V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Well, it was Stinky Hooker worst nightmare revisited. Headed down the lake, boat full of people and kids and the steering cable gave way! I noticed some tension on the cable as I went to turn and heard a loud "pop" then the wheel just took a hard right....about 27 mph and less than 100 yds from shoreline....thank God it did the hard right or we'd have been toast. I barely had enough time to pull it back let alone think of putting it in reverse, which didn't even enter my mind ::)

So, what steering cable length do I need for my V-21? I'm thinking 18ft? Where are the other V-21 people when I need them? ;D

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

I'm here at work and haven't even raised the cowl on the motor in a while. Does anyone know if the 2004 Yamaha 150 2-stroke would have a lifting ring on top under the hood? If I go back with a standard NFT system I'll probably have to lift the motor....fun fun. ::)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

My first boat was the old cable and pully steering, I was going down the cape cod canale and the steering let go!

Had to have my friend bear hug the motor to keep us stright to get 3 miles to the ramp, Man that sucks!!

I can tell you all Yamahas I have seen all have the lift ring so you should be fine.

Cable leanth ??

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

The bad part is I'm taking off Friday from work and supposed to leave bright and early for the beach. This sucks!

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

BR rip out that old one fast it has the length on the cable my V20 and my 21 both use 15 ft cables. When you pull it out tape a nice strong rope on the cable that way you can use the rope to pull the new one back in faster and easier.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

That would be nice if it does have it stamped. *I'll check. Thanks for the tips! We are all lucky to be alive.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Did the cable give any signs prior like stiff turning before it busted?

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

I had noticed when turned fully in one direction it would stick a little bit - hardly noticeable.

Also, NFB had begun giving me feeback from the motor going on a year now. :-/

Steering cable was 2 years old and installed by the previous owner.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Reading your description of the events...are you sure the cable broke and not the helm? It sounds like maybe the helm let go? Jus wonderin?

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Yea, I was thinking the same way and with it only 2 years old it should not broken.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

1st off, thank God yall are ok. At least it was in a bigger boat and everone stayed onboard, NOT like the smaller cc we were in. :(


Im with them on checking the helm. Im thinkin helm because you say the NFB had been giving you feedback for awhile. The cable does NOT have anything to do with feedback or not, the helm does. The cables are the same whether your system is standard rotary or NFB . It is the helm that is different.

Usually for a cable to break it will start getting tight and hang up all together first.


Either way its a quick fix once you get the part...10 munutes and you are boating again. 8)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

The helm is only 2 years old as well. *What makes me think its the cable is the helm appears to be pulling the cable through fine. *

Please explain my 10 minute fix in detail cause I'm thinking along the lines of much worse - pull motor, new helm and cable etc.!!

THanks,
BLue

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Blue, couple questions, and you may have to go home early to get the answers, tell the boss we said it was OK to go home early, you know, boat bizniz. ::)

Can you turn the motor without the helm moving? Is it smooth?

If you remove the helm, you should be able to tell if the cable is in one piece or not. Not sure how yours is setup, but I'm guessing that to see if the cable is in one piece you have to pull the motor, or pull the helm. Just hoping we can help you find the easy way out. Who knows maybe you'll be lucky?

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Slot, yes, motor can turn by hand smoothly. When I turn the helm, I can see the cable moving back and forth on the helm end, but of course nothing on the motor end.

I've got a buddy coming over and we will look at it this evening. If nothing else I'll get the cable length and be prepared to pick up a new NFB system tomorrow.

Then tomorrow evening I'll pick up the motor and switch them out. :P I hate boats!

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

You've forgotten who you are dealing with here! I never get lucky :'(

Thanks for the help though. I do appreciate it. ;)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Blue, wish i could help on the steering, but paid to have mine replaced. All I can say is that I'm glad everyone is ok. ;)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Blue, I'm not to the point of replacing my steering yet but am anticipating having to do so before first splashdown. Look at this, personally I would change all, helm, cable, etc. The unknown is worst than death. The price isn't too bad.
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/358501658msk.htm
Not having physically looked at this I don't know if it's correct or not. Please post if it will work.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

I feel your frustration. You'll get it fixed and will be enjoying your boat again real soon. Thankfully everyone is OK and it's only the boat that's broke.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

good lord was watchin ya blue glad everyone is ok ;)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

go hydrulic, i like mine. no feedback.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

cheapest fix take to coast pay up the insurance and pull the plug and sink her lol.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

LOL, too risky Skools, much better to let Hammer power load it, then it sinks anyway ;D

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

In the 1st place , you one LUCKY DAWG an' don't you fergit it...glad nobody got hurt...bet the ol' sphincter tightened a might on ya ;) ...

I keep thinkin' w/the extended transom, you NOT gonna have to liff motor...hope not, anyway...see iffn it'll go B4 ya liff-up on it ;) ...

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Well, RAP was right, we got the steering cable out without lifting the motor. It had broken inside the helm. I got some pics for ya'll.

Tsubi, yes that is exactly what I'm replacing it with. One thing I don't know is how they measure the cable. I left mine in so I could pull the new one through but got a rough measurement. Well, from the fitting that goes inside the helm unit to the end of the steering ram she was 18'. So do they measure these things like that or is it from the helm fitting to the outboard nut?

Also in your link the dropdown shows 16' and 18'...although just the other day seems like someone said they replaced their steering cable and it was 17' on the V20??

Pics in a few...gotta work just a lil bit first. ;)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Blue, now see, you did get lucky. Everybody is safe and sound, no harm done, and the repair is easier than you thought. What more could ya want. Now get er done and git back after them feesh ;D

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

It broke from all that additional drag from the enclosure

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

I was thinking due to additional heavy weights sitting on the bench seat. And the rough azz water I been in striper feeshun ;D

Now, will I be able to find the correct length helm? Getting ready to call around.

I'll report back..

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Scroll to bottom of this link to see how to measure NFB sterring.

http://www.iboats.com/Teleflex_Nfb_N...-view_id.40295

"Measure Twice. Order Once."

Measure cable routing path from wheel center to engine connection, as follows:
*
A = Center line of wheel to gunwale (or deck, if routed downward),

B = Dash to Transom,

C = Gunwale to centerline of cable connection at centered tiller.

For Cable Installations through Engine Tilt Tube:
Add A, B and C +6", then round up to the next foot. Order that lenth
cable.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Ok, called 3 different places and 3 different prices ::)

1st - $343 close to work
2nd - $335 further than any
3rd - $300 close to home - this is the one I chose.

eBay - $215 :'(

Gotta have it in a day or two max...no time for eBay where I could save a load of $$.

They will try to have it tomorrow. I hope 17' fits!

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

BR, sorry I didn't read this thread sooner. Thank the Lord you're all okay.

Hey, $170 at Boatstore USA. This is where I bought mine. I know you have time restraints. Maybe pay extra for expedited shipping?


http://www.boatstoreusa.com/productd...;ProductID=173

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Ok, pix pix pix...

My friend Chad came over and showed his skills. We got the steering wheel off. It was a good thing 2 of us were pulling on it because it didn't come off really easy. Plus due to the black plastic collar my gear puller wouldn't fit under the steering wheel base so no help there.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521071927.jpg

Wheel and plastic collar off:

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...521071927a.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521071931.jpg

Got the helm unit out, now to the back of the boat. Taking this ss plate off sure did help make room to get this cable out!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521071940.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521071943.jpg

In the middle of it all, my friend Joey stopped by. He just got back from a trip offshore on a 26' sea hunt CC. They caught 19 mahi and lost 10. Biggest fish was 27 lbs! He brought me a nice bag of meat.....(next time take me take me with ya punk ::))

Here's Joey undoing the steering arm so we can pull the cable out of the engine sleeve.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521071948.jpg

Broken cable end was inside the helm unit. Pretty gnarly!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521072020.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...521072020a.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...521072020b.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...521072020c.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...521072021a.jpg
I left it in there. When I get the new system I will hacksaw the steering tube ram off the back, tape the end of the new to the end of the old, insert the ram in the steering tube on the motor, and feed the cable up to the front of the boat by pulling the old cable. Make sense? I think this is what Skools and company were getting at with the advice right?

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521072021.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521072022.jpg

As you can see, only about 2' of cable broke off.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d7...0521072023.jpg

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

A lot of work Blue, but you will Know it is right, thats a good thing ;)

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Awe it wasn't too bad (yet) Willy. I needed to be getting ready for the trip this weekend rather than working on steering but hey, it could have been worse.

They are supposed to get that 17' cable in tomorrow. We'll see if 1) they get it in and 2) if it will fit. If no on either of these, Blue Runner will likely be staying in my driveway for the weekend :'(

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

$229 at Boaters world

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/358501518msk.htm

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Thanks MJ but I'm using the rotary type. I wish I had time to shop around but it looks like I'll be lucky to get it in 2 days or less from aywhere.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

BGA, I must have been putting together my picture post when you posted that :-/

Thanks a million for trying to help out but I guess I'll stick to the local guy that promises 2 days or less. Let's hope his promises hold up.

Can you believe the markup b/t the internet and the store?! Somebody needs to be arrested cause its highway robbery! Willy hammer randle?? where are ya?

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

BR,

I figured that, that's why I thought I'd repost it (also for the sake of others so that they might know where to buy these kits for a good price).

Anyway, I pray that everything comes together for you before the weekend.

I wish I were closer to help you out.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Hey BR, glad no one was hurt.

Which beach you headed to? I will be @ Holden Friday - Monday if you are going to that area.

As for boatshop pricing, the shop here in town has high marked prices but they will wheel and deal. Never hurts to ask.

Re: V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!
 

Looking good Blue, your almost done. You will be ready for the weekend for sure. ;)