Steering Cable replacement.

My Triton TR186 needs to have the steering cables replaced for the 2nd time. After getting several Quotes I think I am going to have to tackle this one myself. Anyone here have any experience with Replacing Rack and Pion cables on a bass boat or any boat for that matter. I’d like to know how much of a job I am getting myself into before diving into the project. I am not the most mechanical person but most likely can get the aid of someone who is. I’ve looked around on the Net and found some general Info. on the subject but nothing real detailed. I have several You tube video’s to watch tonight and hope they will help some.

I did it on a Lund Tyee a few years ago. It was a very easy job. Just remember to put the steering rack on the back of the wheel in the right position. I put mine in backwards the first time and my steering was backwards. It only took like 30 minutes to do.
DT

That is what I wanted to hear. The Marine repair places I talked with said 2-4 Hr’s labor. They said sometime the motor has to be removed. Something about the bend being to sharp to make the turn. I think I’ll get a good idea of how tough of a job it will by how easy the old cables are to get out. To be honest I have not even took that close of a look at it. I had planned to have it done at a shop till I call a few for estimates. I think I can get the 2 cables for around 100.00 each and the estimates were in the 600.00-900.00 range. Ouch !!!!! I cant remember what I paid the last time I had it done 4 or 5 years ago but I think it was only in the 300.00 range.

I put in a sea star hydraulic steering with out any trouble on my Champion 187 .
Stan

To get your old ones out it is easier to cut them with a hacksaw and then pull them out of the tube on the engine.

Curios why your going thru cables have you kept them greased and lubricated? When greasing turn your motor all the way to the right and it will help force grease up the cable.

I would strongly consider installing hydraulic steering works better and less hassle once installed.

I will say I have seen more than a few boats where the engine has to get pulled off the transom in order to change the steering cables. I have also switched a lot of boats from rack and pinion to rotary. Sometimes because of the price of rack cables it’s cheaper to replace the whole helm over to rotary. Or hydraulic is always an option but costs more up front.

My boat kept eating cables because the angle coming out of the boat was to tight of a bend with the jack plate (187 Champion) on there,factory installed too! that’s why I went Hydraulic , no more problems!
Stan

Bryan Myers wrote:

I will say I have seen more than a few boats where the engine has to get pulled off the transom in order to change the steering cables. I have also switched a lot of boats from rack and pinion to rotary. Sometimes because of the price of rack cables it’s cheaper to replace the whole helm over to rotary. Or hydraulic is always an option but costs more up front.

Now that is not what I wanted to hear. Its a older boat that I plan to sell soon. Converting it to Hydraulic is to expensive of a option at this time.