How to remove a steering cable on a boat

Removing a steering cable on a pontoon boat.
I am in the process of tearing down a friend’s pontoon boat for renovation. I am disconnecting everything on the console so it can be removed. This video shows how to remove the steering cable from the gearbox. This one is aggravating because it’s old and corroded . I couldn’t use the locking pin to release the cable. I had to get innovative. Hope this helps you if you need to replace an old cable or if you are renovating a boat. 🐿

[@grassjunky3705]

Fought mine for 45 min until I watched this. Thanks!!!

[@TheEwaytrader]

l, on the other hand, had problems putting it back together. After watching this video, I learnt that I have to turn it hard to wind the cable in until it click in place. Before I couldn't find any instructions on Google. Without your video, I don't know how long I will be stuck in this step for. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO, FROM AUSTRALIA.

[@desjardin5786]

This video just saved me, I lost steering while in the middle of a river and your video helped me fix it.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

One of the best comments I could possibly receive. I glad you made it off the river safely. It is very humbling to get a comment like that. I’m happy my video helped you! 🐿

[@arman757]

Outstanding video. Short and to the point, especially for us folks that didn't happen to look at the tag on the pins of the new helm we're installing.

[@j29maniac]

Thanks for the vid. Most steering cable videos assume you are installing a whole new system so they don’t show you how to remove an existing cable. My winter project is to redeck a pontoon so I will need to do this, and the boat has this same teleflex cable.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I’m happy this helped you out. I was renovating a pontoon for a friend and needed to remove the console in order to replace the carpet. I will be uploading more pontoon renovation videos soon. Thanks so much for watching and commenting 🐿

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Good luck with your renovation!🐿

[@j29maniac]

Thanks. It is a work boat for a sailing club with no permanent seating, so it is a fairly simple job. We already epoxied and painted the new plywood, so the winter work will be mostly disassemble and rebuild.

[@johnelliott9444]

Excellent instructions, had it done in seconds

[@thatdirtylife8685]

This man got to the point and showed me what i was missing.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Glad this video helped you out. Good luck with your restoration. 🐿

[@trevormccullough2953]

In the middle of a pontoon remodel as well and ordered new steering cable replacing it tomorrow night thanks for thr vid!

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Good Luck on your restoration and I appreciate you watching my video. I hope it helped you out. 🐿

[@djf1019]

Exactly what I needed to see for my project pontoon. It has a 99 50-hp evinrude outboard I am removing and will repower the pontoon. Thanks for this video.

[@dwayneroberts6616]

Ty very much for this video now I feel confident about removing my steering cable. I need to find out if it's the rack that's stiff or the motor end. I just put new grease in the tilt and steering tubes and the steering is still way to stiff. Going to try and lubricate this old rusty rotary steering.

[@dawnwolff2050]

Thanks this helped us get the cable steering cable out on our pontoon boat.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I’m glad it helped you out Dawn. I appreciate the comment! 🐿

[@bhf4u]

i spent over an hour wondering what i was doing wrong..... my steering didn't have the little piece of paper on it LOL good times thank you for the video

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I am happy my video helped you out! Thanks for watching! 🐿

[@BobcatOutdoors]

Excellent, thanks for the tutorial, fixing to have to do this on the Bobsled!

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thank you Bobcat. This is my most viewed video and the worst recording job. I recorded that on my cell phone and I didn’t know how to edit. I appreciate you watching 🐿

[@bubatrilis5200]

🎉🎉🎉🎉 thank you , big help !! You are the legend! Big tks from Lithuania 😅

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thanks Buba, I appreciate you watching!🐿

[@ZZ430T56]

Thanks!!! I couldn't figure ho to get the cable off the steering wheel box. Used the screwdriver to release the pin and had to wiggle the steering wheel.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Glad my video helped you out! Please hit that like button for me. 👍🐿

[@Labradorslobber]

Thanks. Best vid I’ve seen on this.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thank you, that was one of my first videos, I need to do another one with better audio or voice over. I’ve come a long way since that vid!😁👊🐿

[@denezellmer64]

Another good very informative video

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thanks Dene

[@bertrenolds5]

Thanks, worked perfectly so I could disconnect and reroute my cable

[@regwest365]

Thank you so much! Just want I needed.

[@makingcookingfixing]

Great video! I have slack in my steering of like 2 inches, what do you suggest doing? Can I adjust something at this gear box? Thanks.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

There isn’t an adjustment that I am aware of, I would just replace the cable and gearbox. Thanks for watching, glad it helped you out. 🐿

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

Is it possible to pull it out teleflex out of the cable for lubrication purposes by pulling on the other end?

[@antknee1072]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWqTY6JpaNyXqsk

[@cody2097]

Thanks for the video! Cracking me up with you pointing left saying right.. am i missing somethin?, what was your thinking there?

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I was point to the left and saying right in reference to the steering wheel on the boat if you are looking at the wheel from the top side. I was under the console so everything is backwards. To unwind the cable turn the wheel clockwise or to the right. I hope this helps. I may make another video with a split screen since I actually know how to edit now. It would probably help the explanation. Thanks for the comment ! 🐿

[@jacklowe3788]

Thanks for video- Curious have boat w/ steering wheel not center - Motor straight steering wheel about 1100 instead of 12- Drives me crazy - It's Teleflex Wondering where the steer wheel should be positioned when start to feed back cable?

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

My steering wheel had Splines to where you could take it off and realign the wheel. Hope this helps. Good luck 🐿

[@jacklowe3788]

@@FishinwithSquirrel thanks I check it out

[@eivindlukasmoenfasting1602]

Cheers! Finally changing my cable thanks to you! But I have a problem attaching my new cable, any tricks for installing it? Is that little steering cable hitch pin part of the installation? To secure it? Mine seems to go in, I hear a click but it pulls out after a little bit of testing. I'm missing my hitch pin. Thanks again!

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Don’t forget to reinstall the pin once the cable is fully seated.

[@eivindlukasmoenfasting1602]

@@FishinwithSquirrel cheers! Will need to find one first or maybe use something of the shelves?

[@DeafRedneck]

My steering cable snapped the short piece broke off from the top hole now I gotta get the rest of the cable out from the bottom hole

[@waynehouska2550]

Thank You For Sharing

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Hope you never have to replace a steering cable. If you do, I hope this helps.

[@rayranger8249]

can you do a video of the other end. thats were they seem to seize.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Ray, I removed my cable to restore my pontoon boat squirrel. I did remove the other end because I bought a new motor and swapped out my old one. I should have videoed the motor swap. The next opportunity I have, I will film a complete removal. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate you watching. 🐿

[@Hoellewood_Solutions]

One minute in I had it figured out. Found out that if I continued turning the wheel, it threaded the cable out

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

When you turn the wheel the other direction it will feed the cable back in. Hope my video helped you out. 🐿

[@esboob71]

Thank you!!!!

[@edwardengel5646]

Was there something wrong with the cable or just part of redo on the boat

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

We removed the console so we could put new carpet on the deck of the pontoon. We ended up replacing the console but reused the steering cable. The cable was fine. The push pin to release it was much harder to push on than normal. Thanks for the comment Edward. 🐿

[@tylergagnon6371]

I have this style teleflex I got second hand that is steering in reverse any idea how I can reverse it?

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I’m sorry, I do not

[@indianachrisUDX1313]

Nice Info!

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thanks Chris.

[@indianachrisUDX1313]

@@FishinwithSquirrel You're welcome

[@jasonsmith7809]

thank you

[@bradleysnyder50]

Thanks !!!

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thank You Midwest Hunt and Fish. I appreciate you watching 🐿

[@danielklem8727]

I have about 6 to 8 inches of slack in my steering, would a new steering box fix this?

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I’m not sure if the steering box swap would fix your issue or not. If I we’re going to replace the steering box, I would probably swap over to Hydraulic steering. If I were to stay with the cable drive, I would not only replace the gearbox but the cable as well. Good luck.

[@danielklem8727]

I have a 2019 Suntracker 20 ft DLX party barge, under the helm it does look like this system, I think the easiet, less expensive would be the best way to go I think. Hydraulic may be more expensive and probably more complicated install for someone like me who has very few adult type tools.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

my pontoon I renovated is a 2005 tracker 21’ Fishin barge pontoon. I’m still using the original gear box and cable. You shouldn’t be having any issues with a 2019.

[@firstlast4100]

Thanks 🍻

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

You are welcome! 🐿

[@lear60man]

Do you have a model number for this box? I have the same unit and want to replace it......but cant find what model number it is. Thanks.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I didn’t replace my steering box, but I looked up seastar solutions mechanical steering technical help number for you. It is 610-495-7011. They are open M-F 8-5. They should be able to tell you which replacement product you need. Hope this helps. 🐿

[@lear60man]

@@FishinwithSquirrel Well hot dang. Yea, thats a big help, much appreciated. You are the only video I have found with this steering box!

[@gerardlevesque7353]

👍

[@richardluce775]

Disconnect battery so if cable contacts electrical under helm you don’t get surprise.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Battery was removed in my case. You bring up a good safety tip. Thank You 🐿

[@matm6916]

How to remove from motor is impossible to find

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I’ll have to make a video on that Mat M. I replaced my outboard motor, but didn’t film rigging or removal. The steering cable at the back isn’t difficult as long as it isn’t seized up in the motor tube. I have to pull my boat out as soon as all this rain stops to do some maintenance, I’ll try to post a video soon. 🐿

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

Pulling the metal cable out of its black plastic jacket? That’s what I meant?

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I have never taken the black tube off. The tube is where the excess cable travels when the boat motor is turned to the left or port side. I suppose you could grease part of the cable removing the sleeve but there is going to be cable in the gear box you can’t access.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

I hope this helps. Thank you for viewing and commenting 🐿

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

@@FishinwithSquirrel no, what I was trying to say is: suppose you have the cable totally out of the boat, on the ground…can you pull on the side of the rod and pull the whole thing out of its jacket /sleeve?

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Sorry I misunderstood Jack. I’m not sure whether you can do that or not. I’ve had the cable loose from the motor and the gear box when I was restoring my pontoon boat but I never tried to remove the cable from the outer sleeve. The next time I take one loose I will give it a try.

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

@@FishinwithSquirrel thanks, just seems like you could do that and would be a way of cleaning the old lube and lubricating it. I can’t find anyone on KZbin that’s done it. Have a great day.

[@FAKE-NAME]

Lol audio sounded like you where talking in a church.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

Thanks for the comment. This was one of my first videos I recorded. I am still not great with the audio and video but I’ll get better, I promise 😊 Thank you for viewing my video, I hope it helped with your project. 🐿

[@richardlombardo9368]

@@FishinwithSquirrel Very informative. However, you might want to have a separate person doing the video so that it's not shaky.

[@FishinwithSquirrel]

@@richardlombardo9368 thanks for the comment , I hope this video helped you out 🐿