Replacing Detmar Steering Cable

[Nautek]

With rack steering no need to remove wheel
Just remove the rack and cable
To remove the wheel you need a wheel puller or place 2 screwdrivers under wheel and apply pressure whilst you get a mate to hit the shaft with a heavy hammer after loosening the nut. Leave it at the end of the thread so as not to damage the thread.
You have to crack the taper.

Allan

[c130king]

Allan,

If you go from a Detmar to a Teleflex I believe you do have to remove the wheel because you will have a whole new steering wheel shaft...don't think the Detmar steering wheel shaft/pinion gear will mesh up with the Teleflex rack. And in my case I completely stripped the gears in both the rack and the pinion gear on the steering wheel shaft.

And the recommendation to remove the steering cable but leave it connected to the steering wheel...not sure if that is possible in an ...not sure how you did it in an . But for me I bought a tube of synthetic grease at West Marine. It is kind of translucent/opaque looking gel and the tube costs about $10 (about the size/shape of a tube of toothpaste). But based on how much I used it should last for several years if you lube the cable every 18 months or so.

I squeezed a big dab of grease on a rag. Left the steering completely hooked up. Turned the wheel all the way to the stop to extend the steering cable to its max extent (can't remember if that was to port or starboard but it is easy enough to know if the cable is fully exposed or fully retracted). Then just used the rag to rub the grease all over the exposed steering rod that comes out of the steering cable (not positive on the proper nomenclature...oooh $0.35 word alert). Then turn the wheel stop to stop a few times to further spread the grease inside. Then I just threw the rag away.

Cheers,
Jim

[40Toes]

I too have to replace my steering cable. I have completely removed it from the boat and I am assuming it is a Detmar though I can't seem to find any markings on it. I would like to remove the cable itself from its sheathing just to see how the corrison progressed so I will be more aware with the new system plus I love taking things apart that I know I don't have to put back together! I have removed it from the rack, but I can't seen to get the cable removed from its sheath. Has anyone ever done this or know how it is put together?

Thanks,
Rod

[Nautek]

Ah!! Jim

You are right however if you are removing the cable to lubricate it there is no need to remove the wheel or the rest of the steering assy as I did

Allan

[2BonC]

Hallo Jim,
I can confirm that it´s possible to remove the Detmar steering cable with rack while the wheel is still in place, did it today.
However to exchange the complete steering the wheel has to be removed. Doing this was a piece of cake after heating up the hub by means of a heat gun, I even did not need a hammer .
All what I have read in the MG-pages about steering problems made me uncertain as far as my steering was concerned . I had the impression it was turning quite hard.
But now after I have removed and checked the complete steering system without detecting any wear I will first lubricate it and try again for improvement in smoothness.

Rainer

[Nautek]

Rainer

I have just done mine and the difference is like unbelievable
Graham in the UK is also in the process of doing his too
If this is a regular task every coulple of years then the steering system should last for many years

Allan

[2BonC]

Allan,
how and what did You lubricate? The only parts which I can access are the gearing at the top end and the piston on the bottom end of the cable. As You will see the piston is quite erodet. I grinded off the rust and lubricated this parts however no improvement was observed.

Have You been able to remove either the piston or the gear rack from the cable? I think this would be the only way to lubricate the cable itself.

Rainer

[Nautek]

Hi Rainer

Yes I removed the cable from the rack and lubricated the whole cable
Read earlier post to see how

Allan

[2BonC]

Thanks Allan, I found it.
As I understand You did not seperate the inner part from the outer part of the cable.
What I´m going to do tomorrow I will thrill or grind a small hole (3mm) into the outer part of the cable just below the rack and fill in some oil . This will be my last attempt prior throwing away the whole assembly and ordering a Uflex one.
Rainer

[Nautek]

Rainer

Be very careful drilling you probably will damage the inner cable
Just get a hose or pipe and fill with oil and work the cable it will lubricate itself

Allan

[GART]

Thanks Allan, I found it.
As I understand You did not seperate the inner part from the outer part of the cable.
What I´m going to do tomorrow I will thrill or grind a small hole (3mm) into the outer part of the cable just below the rack and fill in some oil . This will be my last attempt prior throwing away the whole assembly and ordering a Uflex one.
Rainer

I agree do not cut the outer, they are usually made from spiral wound wire, if you drill, cut or grind the outer cable it will probably break in two.
I followed Allan’s instructions and it worked a treat , I have not connected the engine yet but I can spin the wheel from one lock to the other by flicking the wheel with one finger.

Graham

[R Rae]

I checked out the Uflex web site and discovered they appear to offer 2 different types of replacement cable. The first is the conventional rack & pinion, the other seemed a more advanced planetary gear system. The pricing looked very similar and would like any feedback please if anyone has used this type already, and whether it would work on the 26X.

Thanks in advance......r

[ferd johns]

R Rae

I installed the Uflex Planetary helm and cable on a 1996 Mac X as a replacement for the ROTARY helm unit that was standard on the early Mac X. It took a little modification of the pedestal, but not much. I now have a 2000 X that has the factory Detmar rack-and-pinion steering. I'll probably replace that soon, probably with the Uflex RackTech rack-and-pinion set recommended by Blue Water Yachts. If you have an earlier model X with a rotary helm, the Uflex Rotary Planetary set will work beautifully as a replacement, and is smooth and sturdy. I don't know if the Uflex rotary unit would fit in the later model pedestal that originally had the rack-and-pinion, but I suspect it would. I have learned from this site that a rack-and-pinion set will not fit in the early pedestal without significant modification ....... extending the top of the pedestal.

Ferd Johns

[R Rae]

Ferd J,

Thanks for your response. The planetary gear system appears more compact than the current R&P, and because of this perhaps one should go up a foot to the 9 ft. length. Does this seem about right?


Thanks.....r

[ferd johns]

R Rae

The rotary unit is more compact, but I'm not certain whether the cable is the same nominal length or not, as it wraps around the rotary drive unit while the other type attaches to the rack. I would certainly ask an expert like Cheryl (bwygirl) or Todd at Bluewater Yachts. They are terrific in my opinion.

Ferd