Any thoughts or advice on quick fixes for a rudder cable that has stretched out more on one side so the pedals do no sit even with the rudder straight. I know on my bikes it's common with new brake and shifter cables and is an easy fix, but I'm not sure whats the best way to tackle this on my oc1. It's a Zephyr.
Much thanks...
Submitted by Just Paddle on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 11:55am
First check to make sure it isn't wrapped up at the rudder side (i.e. the loop got caught on the end causing the uneven problem) and unhook it. If that isn't it, then you need to decide if you can adjust to the pedals being uneven or cut and repair it.
If it's at least a half inch difference, just cut of the longer side crimp and put another crimp/cable sleeve and heat shrink tubing on it.
When I replaced the cables on my Mantra and on a Surfski, I used the 1.9mm double copper lock sleeves that you find at fishing stores for the steel cable leaders. Heatshrink tubing can be found at most hardware stores in the electrical area or at Radioshack.
#1 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 12:17pm
It's probably easier to re-crimp at the peddle end, some time's it only needs a spacer clamped over the cable behind the peddle on the stretched line to take up the slack.
You don't need to cut the cable that way. If it's looped thru the peddle with a thimble, then you will need to cut it.
#2 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 12:53pm
If you want to switch from steel cable to dyneema try using harpoon reel ,which is made out of dynema ,strong no stretch and waxed so won't chaffe easily
#3 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 1:14pm
That's what I meant. Cut the crimp at the pedal end since it just goes through a hole and has a copper sleeve crimped and covered with heatshrink tubing on the backside.
On the Rudder end, the cable is looped through the tiller bar and has a piece of black tubing around it to prevent chaffing. Too much trouble cutting that end.
I used those aluminum type crimps on the surfski cables and they slipped. Won't use them on rudder cables anymore, but they are fine for larger sized cables since you can hammer them tighter than using a crimping tool.
The thimbles that were used on the surfski started rusting so I replaced it with tubing as well since it was easier to replace than getting new ones that small.
#4 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 1:20pm
The rudder cable should be quality stainless steel as with the fittings. Problem is the crappy hardware coming out of China these days, you never know what grade the SS cable is.
Sorry E7M, i thought you were talking about the rudder end.
R
#5 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 1:37pm
Is that similar to Spectra cord which is used on the newer Hurricane models?
How would you actually use it or what else would you need to get to change from steel cables to this synthetic rope? Any instructions on the conversion process?
After replacing the rudder steering kit on a friends Hurricane, it looks as if the spectra cord is several giant loops and tied together at the ends. Felt like dental floss since it is also waxed.
The Surfski is an old TwoGood Portlock style model. Not sure if the fittings are the original ones or if a previous owner changed them. Also, the hinges used on the pedals look like they were changed/wrong. I may have to change them out next.
To my understanding OC sends the parts/materials used on their products from here over to their factory in China. At least that's what was said in a PP magazine last year about their China production.
#6 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 2:12pm
I wasn't suggesting OC had crappy fittings, just that hardware in general coming out of China and sold in hard ware stores are very poor quailty. Could be why OC send theirs over from Hawai'i.
Specialist stores like Marine Chandlers seem to have the Quality stuff.
Not sure where you would buy Spectra cable, the Hurricane replacement cable comes all made up too length.
Cheers Rambo
#7 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 2:52pm
never did like the "ropes" for rudder. I dunno why, they might be better. But I did the same as E7M, got the cable and crimps from a fishing store and heat shrink from Radio shack. Get the clear heat shrink, that way if there's any wear or corrosion you can see it rather than finding out the hard way. The spool of cable lasts like forever. I've recabled my boat a coupla times my friends boats and the spool still looks full.
#8 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 3:04pm
Spectra can be bought at almost any marine hardware store, or more specifically a sailboat riggers shop would have it as well and sell it in whatever length you want. Probably just as or more expensive than stainless steel cable.
Dyneema is similar to Spectra, just made by another company.
The idea behind spectra is that it is light (and wicked strong under a load).
Easiest way to attach the spectra is to splice it, but thats really not all that easy. So SS cable is simple and faster to replace than anything else.
#9 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 9:05pm
man toa moana, you must be some kind of boat builder or something.
#10 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 9:17pm
x
#11 Mon, 03/07/2011 - 6:05pm
i was a sailboat rigger in a previous life.
#12 Tue, 02/24/2009 - 9:39pm
Many thanks, got the fix with your suggestions.... Will look into the non ss versions but as mentioned the ss is so easy to work with.
Enjoy the water, it just dropped from 7 to -10 c here overnight so the new rigging will have to wait a few more days till I can't see my breath... + somebody's got to enjoy the nature chilled beer...
#13 Thu, 02/26/2009 - 6:52am
That's probably the only reason I'm not in a rush to convert to spectra/dyneema. Plus a 500' spool of SS cable would be cheaper to be able to replace them when needed.
#14 Thu, 02/26/2009 - 8:51am