Lubrication of steering cables

[boatmike]

Yes. Most bike cables are like this now but they are only for light loads. I have not seen teflon coated high load cables and was once told it was not a good idea as the teflon won't stand the high loads and wears through, but cant say I am sure of this and have no real knowledge of them apart from I ain't never seen ones big enough for steering a boat with!

 

[Roberto]

thanks Mike,

more than steering, I was thinking about engine/gear cables, which I suppose have the same load as motorcycle cables

mind you, mine are so old that I would seriously doubt they are of the self lubricating kind

 

[boatmike]

Most of these are in fact Morse cables and I haven't seen one teflon coated yet, but cos I haven't seen one doesn't mean there aren't any

 

[LadyInBed]

My steering cable was a bit stiff so I dripped engine oil down the chain and into the cable to lubricate it.
Worked a treat, that was four years ago now.

 

[Dave_Knowles]

Hi,

They make a special version of ACF-50 for marine called Corrosion Block which you can buy on the web if you do a search.

All the best

Dave

 

[john_morris_uk]

I have had similar problems with our steering cables this winter.

Interesting problem as ours is an Edson system and they still suuply the greasers (orginally nipples but now grease cups) which can be fitted to existing cables.

They recommend a silicon grease which they also supply. There is an Edson website complete with parts manuals etc, but as I am writing this from Santiago Airport, (complementary web access while I wait for the flight....) I haven´t got the URL here.

I was glad that I removed the cables as the steering was working - although a little stiff - and when I tried to pull the inner cables out, one jambed fast completely. I believe that the inner lining broke down and jambed the whole thing up. New cables cost the wrong side of 200 pounds, but what price peace of mind and a steering system that works???

If you look on the Edson site, and you find that yours is the same sytem (Black cables which have a sort bof very coarse ´thread´ moulded into the outer cover, perhaps you can retro fit some of the cup greasers. Not too difficult if you can remove the inner cable, and hacksaw through the outer cover. They were about 20 pounds each (sorry no pound sign on this Spanish keyboard....)