Drats !! Morse gear cable not working ..

[Refueler]

Launched boat and I had asked yard to hold her in the slings for a while - to let me run engine for a bit - hasn't been run for over a year .... when testing AHEAD - ASTERN ... nothing !

Took the single lever control of cockpit side to check cable connected - all fine .... then lifted cockpit sole - as can be seen - the cable is connected to gear box ... looks like cable has broken somewhere along its length ... DRAT !!

 

[Boathook]

If it the bottom cable I'm not surprised with the way the outer casing is blown out by rust.

 

[Refueler]

Given the age of the boat and gear ..... annoying - but having served many decades !!

 

[PabloPicasso]

Happened to me too. Went to pick uo a new to me boat.

Dropped into the water post survey and throttle cable let go.

Yard owner gave me a lift to buy a replacement cable. What a hassle when trting to get the boat home.

Sure, its the start of a long list of maintenence chores.

 

[Refueler]

Need to remove cable and try find replacement.

 

[Boathook]

Need to remove cable and try find replacement.

The cable looks like a standard 'morse' type cable. Sometimes they have the length stamped on the red casing. Normally it is in feet ....

Keep the existing end fittings !

 

[Refueler]

The cable looks like a standard 'morse' type cable. Sometimes they have the length stamped on the red casing. Normally it is in feet ....

Keep the existing end fittings !

Yep ....

 

[Refueler]

Removed old cable today .... had to c ut into 3 pieces to get it out ....

Hidden deep under transom locker - the outer cable 'tube' had blown and the outer steel strands shredded ... the inner stainless push / pull appeared in tact .. but when lever was moved - the outer cable moved making the inner cable ineffective. Its a pity that I could not just replace the outer .. but because of the 'blown' section - I could not withdraw the cable through its bulkhead holes. I also needed to rotate the cable to unscrew from the gearbox connector which is 'corroded solid' ...... Its a 'ball and cup' connector .....

I can try get a new 'ball and cup' connector or hopefully be able to rotate inner new cable to screw into the old ....... the single lever end is fine - that screws on / off fine.

Morse cable is 3.45m screw end to screw end .....

 

[Refueler]

New morse cable ordered ....

 

[Boathook]

I fitted new cables last year and seem to remember that the inner won't rotate in the outer so you may require an extra pair of hands.

Best to try and get a newcub and ball fitting though.

 

[Refueler]

The old "Cup and Ball" fitting would need to be cut off the gearbox arm .. I will have a go with powered wire brush to see if I can free it up enough to slide the lock and release it ... but not so confident after so many decades its been there ....

I've found a replacement - ordered. Will try :

My thoughts were to pull the inner out of the morse cable .. fit to the "Cup and Ball" and then feed back into the outer morse cable ... probably grossly optimistic !!

If not - then new fitting. (It will be fitted later anyway - but would be nice to have all working while waiting delivery from China !!)

There is another job to do round there. Suprised no-ones had a go about it. Clean up the shaft bilge !! I have a Steam Cleaner which I will be using there to shift most of the c**p .....

 

[Refueler]

WOW ... who would believe that such a lump of rust would actually unmount so easily ??



Yes its pretty disgustingly corroded ... but until the new fitting arrives - it can do the job.

No Plus Gas ... no easing oil .... it unbolted easily ... the cup and ball are never going to come apart and if they did - the fitting would be broken anyway ...

Looks like summer will not be wasted !!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I've found a replacement - ordered. Will try :

My thoughts were to pull the inner out of the morse cable .. fit to the "Cup and Ball" and then feed back into the outer morse cable ... probably grossly optimistic !!

You cannot pull the inner out of a morse cable Nigel.

 

[Refueler]

You cannot pull the inner out of a morse cable Nigel.

That was my worry .... anyway - managed to unbolt the 'Cup and Ball' connection - I can now feed cable properly.

 

[Stemar]

WOW ... who would believe that such a lump of rust would actually unmount so easily ??

View attachment 196138

Yes its pretty disgustingly corroded ... but until the new fitting arrives - it can do the job.

No Plus Gas ... no easing oil .... it unbolted easily ... the cup and ball are never going to come apart and if they did - the fitting would be broken anyway ...

Looks like summer will not be wasted !!

Unlike the cup and ball on my port engine, which disconnected, leaving the engine in forward, meaning that, instead of drifting back when I let go the mooring, it went forward, over both mooring pennants and the pickup buoy, wrapping them up very nicely. I had to cut the pennants to get loose. No way were they coming off without drying out.

A new one was a tenner What do you reckon they cost Vetus? 50p?

 

[Refueler]

Unlike the cup and ball on my port engine, which disconnected, leaving the engine in forward, meaning that, instead of drifting back when I let go the mooring, it went forward, over both mooring pennants and the pickup buoy, wrapping them up very nicely. I had to cut the pennants to get loose. No way were they coming off without drying out.

A new one was a tenner What do you reckon they cost Vetus? 50p?

Mine just cost me about 15 quid .....

TBH - why does it need a 'Cup and Ball' .... a decent clevis + pin and split pin would do the job ... which is what some Morse use ..

 

[vic008]

What sort of life do you expect? Mine could be 40 yr old, time to replace?

 

[Refueler]

What sort of life do you expect? Mine could be 40 yr old, time to replace?

The boat is 1973 ....

 

[Boater Sam]

I had to replace the cup & ball swivel recently. Mine were brass but very worn and the half cup securing the swivel to the ball was threaded into the body but secured with a tiny split pin which stabbed me every time I went near it.
I bought stainless ones off ebay for little money and they are great.

 

[Refueler]

New cable arrived today - will fit it when I return from sailing trip next week.