Gear selector cable snapped in binnacle.

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steve yates

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Anyone had this and dealt with it? I assume the simplest solution is to buy a new cable and replace it?
Any issues that might come up or things to look out for?
It's a westerly longbow if anyone know which specific cable I should get, or length of it.
The bracket it's is bolted to with a saddle looks out of alignment, so might straighten that. The cable is held near the selector lever, inside the binnacle, by another saddle, with doubled up nuts, it looks extremely difficult to access and undo them, open ended spanner a tiny turn at a time seems the only way.
The cable is black and seems half as thin as the red throttle cable, almost as if the addled have double nuts on them because they were too big for this cable?
Are the throttle and gearselector cable usually similar diameter?
 
Both cables are normally the same spec.
The type and length are normally stamped in plastic outer about 10cm from the end sometimes both end but could be in the middle.
A photo of you set up would help.
What engine & gearbox?
 
We have broken a cable.

The cables specification, as Scottie suggests, is usually on the cable but you might need to take the old cable out to find the mark. On our installation the 2 cables are the same so if you cannot see the marks on one, look on the other. It could be one of your cables has been replaced previously, hence the mismatch. If its in a conduit or passes through bulkheads etc - remember to add a mouse line - it will make threading the new cable more easily. Detaching the cable and re-attaching is very, very fiddly. Take a photo before you take it apart, at both ends. We detached the whole throttle/gear change assembly from the cockpit - which might mean you need to pull slack cable through to give you space/length. We took the whole, old, cable to the chandler (who had a huge selection of cables, different diam and lengths), to match. We were not going to be caught short again - and bought spares.

Its not difficult, just very fiddly. The nuts used to attach are tiny - take care not to drop anything.

We rigged up string and tiny blocks from the engine to the helm to get us home - also fiddly - but do-able. It needs a bit of trial and error.

Give yourself plenty of time - its not a quick fit.

Good luck

Jonathan
 
While the engine is new the binnacle levers appear to be original, two chromed alloy levers one longer than the other, early seventies, separate gear and throttle. Nothing like the almost universal current Morse single lever control.
Perhaps ask Norris or Trafalgar?
 
Hi Steve, important update.
Jackie Kay has brought the boat in to the basin and she is berthed just behind Juliet Kilo, ( he was not impressed with your mooring lines but turned her round and walked her in.)
He has repaired the gear cable, says it will be fine but thinks you will soon need a new control, I said Morse Control sets were expensive but he reckons around £100 so talk to him before ordering anything.
When I left he was checking over the engine, the alternator belt was very slack apparently, lots of moaning about stuff, but Jackie does a good job.
 
Quandary said:
Hi Steve, important update.
Jackie Kay has brought the boat in to the basin and she is berthed just behind Juliet Kilo, ( he was not impressed with your mooring lines but turned her round and walked her in.)
He has repaired the gear cable, says it will be fine but thinks you will soon need a new control, I said Morse Control sets were expensive but he reckons around £100 so talk to him before ordering anything.
When I left he was checking over the engine, the alternator belt was very slack apparently, lots of moaning about stuff, but Jackie does a good job.
Click to expand...

A good engineer will always find something wrong.
 
Sounds like you have controls for manually operated gearbox typically Volvo md1 with rob gearbox which would have one very heavy gear cable ( Morse type 60) with a lighter throttle cable type 33c although early volvos used simple wire cables.
Is this still the engine gearbox set up
 
Quandary, when you bring your new boat back, Ian and I will take you through the canal on Tuesday if you want, to get you to your usual berth. You just tell us what to do and we'll do the locks and take the lines while you con your boat through.
 
Kind offer, Steve, but I will keep her in Ardrishaig for a while, at least until I get the 'Boat Safety' cert.
Just off to Strangford now.
 
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