Wheel steering s/s wires .

[clyst]

Hi all ,
should these by greased by way of the turning pullies ?? If so "slap" it on or just a token amount ??

Whilst on the subject --- Has anyone had the misfortune of a wire breakage at sea ? Having a CC If often wondered whether its "really" possible to have worthwhile steerage with a short length of "tiller" bar (some 16") in a confined space with no forward vision .

 

[Searush]

Is that a pentland or similar? I often wonder about that & have considered an extending the emergency tiller for use from outside the aft cabin. Not actually done it yet, but will anchor or heave to to lash something up if it is ever needed.

I have had her 20 odd years with no probs, but the wheel is getting stiffer. GT40 solved it briefly but it is on my jobs list to deal with properly now.

 

[pvb]

The idea is, if possible, to get the grease into the cable conduits. So, put helm right over one way, grease the cables which have come out of the conduit; put helm over the other way, grease the other ends of the cables; repeat. The turning pulleys need their spindles lubricating. Don't forget to grease the steering wheel bearings in the pedestal, and lubricate the chain.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I have had her 20 odd years with no probs, but the wheel is getting stiffer.

Are you sure that it's the wheel which is getting stiffer and not the helmsman?

 

[clyst]

Is that a pentland or similar? I often wonder about that & have considered an extending the emergency tiller for use from outside the aft cabin. Not actually done it yet, but will anchor or heave to to lash something up if it is ever needed.

I have had her 20 odd years with no probs, but the wheel is getting stiffer. GT40 solved it briefly but it is on my jobs list to deal with properly now.

One of these (but not this one)

Unfortunately searush i havent got the room to extend the tillercos the rudder quadrant is deep in a cupboard !!

 

[Hoolie]

... ... ... Whilst on the subject --- Has anyone had the misfortune of a wire breakage at sea ? Having a CC If often wondered whether its "really" possible to have worthwhile steerage with a short length of "tiller" bar (some 16") in a confined space with no forward vision .

Yes, it happened to us just as we were about to go into Portsmouth Harbour
We don't have a CC so our emergency tiller is perhaps a bit longer. No problem in fact though we realised later we could have used the autopilot while faffing about getting the tiller set up. It's an Autohelm coupled directly to the quadrant.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

On my Rival 41C (Centre Cockpit) there is a hole in the aft cabin coach roof with a fuel filler style cap. The emergency tiller shaft is long enough to penetrate the aft cabin and fit over the rudder stock square section. Its a bugger to store and heavy.

I dont know your boat style but this is how Rival sorted the problem. There was a rival lost on a lee shore when the cable snapped due to lack of lubrication. Dont over lubricate, a token amount is all that is needed. Excess grease allows all sorts of dirt to stick to it which over time can cause issues.

 

[catalac08]

I had a cable break but quickly but managed to fit another length to the broken end with a couple of cable clamps when my boat was quite new to me, but fortunately had plenty of sea room. On examination the cable wearing and then breaking was caused by a seized turning block. As has been mentioned I think that what is much more important than greasing the cable is lubricating the turning pulley blocks. Also important to use 7x19 stainless wire which is much more flexible than 1x19. Best to check cables frequently I think.

 

[Searush]

(Snip) Best to check cables frequently I think.

That's the key, but then it's out of sight & awkward to reach - so generally ignored for long periods . . .

 

[Conachair]

Out of interest, does anyone use dynex dux or dyneema sk75 or similar rope instead of steel wire rope in steering systems yet?

 

[Billjratt]

I wouldn't 'slabber' the grease on as it may gather debris over time and that will on occasion get between the wire and pulley.
As for emergency tiller we have a big one but it is deployed deep in the aft cabin. Our solution is to fit another compass, steer the required course while jumping upstairs to check, then turn the bezel on the compass to line up with the pointer. Then you have to rely on another pair of eyes to look out....
Will probably fit a couple of blocks and some line to drag it remotely from the wheelhouse.

 

[Searush]

I reckon I could slip a tube over the emergency tiller. The idea is to have it end just short of the front of the aft cabin & attach a dinghy style hinged extension to it. Then I can stand in the cockpit to steer.

95% of the time I doubt I will need to move the rudder more than I could if it projected thro the hatch, but the hinged extension will allow for the 5% of times when I may need large rudder movements for, say slow speed manouvering/ docking.

 

[Blue Fox]

Out of interest, does anyone use dynex dux or dyneema sk75 or similar rope instead of steel wire rope in steering systems yet?

That's an interesting idea. But wouldn't it be more prone to chafe?
I had a breakage of the cables twice, both times after a lengthy and rough crossing with the wheelpilot on. Once in a harbour in Zeeland - drifted conveniently to the tanking jetty. Hadn't even time (singlehanded) to rig the tiller. And once in Denmark with enough searoom to 'tillarize' the boat.
Now I keep the cables quite tight, to minimise the impact of the movements of the wheelpilot. Maybe I could keep a lenght of dyneema as a spare.

 

[concentrik]

.

Back to the greasing aspect, I wonder why my steering is a lot stiffer in one direction than the other? I've disconnected the Autohelm ram and it's the same, spray lubricated the (single) pulleywheel.... no difference. Could it be the cables?

 

[pvb]

Back to the greasing aspect, I wonder why my steering is a lot stiffer in one direction than the other? I've disconnected the Autohelm ram and it's the same, spray lubricated the (single) pulleywheel.... no difference. Could it be the cables?

Yes, might be worth taking them out and inspecting them for broken strands.

 

[Conachair]

Back to the greasing aspect, I wonder why my steering is a lot stiffer in one direction than the other? I've disconnected the Autohelm ram and it's the same, spray lubricated the (single) pulleywheel.... no difference. Could it be the cables?

If it's just in one direction then might be a sticky turning block on one side.

 

[Bilgediver]

Is that a pentland or similar? I often wonder about that & have considered an extending the emergency tiller for use from outside the aft cabin. Not actually done it yet, but will anchor or heave to to lash something up if it is ever needed.

I have had her 20 odd years with no probs, but the wheel is getting stiffer. GT40 solved it briefly but it is on my jobs list to deal with properly now.

I have the smaller sister a Chieftain. I have a non standard emergency tiller with a long stem to reach above hatch level. It sits on the square drive.

I also have the original small spanner which needs a tiller hand and steersman up top

 

[Bilgediver]

Back to the greasing aspect, I wonder why my steering is a lot stiffer in one direction than the other? I've disconnected the Autohelm ram and it's the same, spray lubricated the (single) pulleywheel.... no difference. Could it be the cables?

Firstly note these wires should be flexible stainless and not rigging wire. Yes grease on the pulley areas and especially the drive drum helps.

Keep an eye on the crimped tail ends at the quadrant. On the Chieftain these were just drilled holes with sharp edges and destroyed a couple of wires on mine till this fault was found and the holes were dressed to give rounded surfaces to the wire. Some westerlies do have correct mountings which lake a hard eye.

Mu latest wires have done 10 years and no sine of problems at tiller or pulleys but some chaffing at the drum.