Yesterday afternoon as I was approaching a restaurant dock, as I went to back down moving the gear shifter down my revs came way up and she surged forward, now as I shift the gear shift it pushes up my throttle lever as if they have some how become connected to each other. I have taken the compass off but cannot see below the wheel shaft.
Any ideas?
Ed
I don't think the cables are close enough for any fouling, but if the covers have been worn away, anything might be possible. Have you looked at the linkages at the engine?
I had a similar problem when I bought Talaria 4 years ago. The solution was to adjust the cable clamp point within the pedestal. It was not easy, even following Edson instructions to loosen the steering cables and pull the roller chain aside. Would have been duck soup with the wheel shaft out but that is another not so easy job, so I fumbled through. Turned out the clamp screw was too short, apparently replace by someone incorrectly. Good luck. Jim
Jim I think you may be correct in your thought and I think the clamp has indeed come adrift when I look down in there it looks like there is a plate of sorts that moves as I manipulate the shift lever. I guess I am about to become an expert at wheel shaft removal!!!!
Ed
There is a cable clamp on the inside, aft side of the pedistal riser that is held in place with a bolt from the outside. Both the shift and throttle cables are held by this clamp. If this clamp has come adrift (bolt has backed out or broken off), then operating the shift will cause the throttle to move as well. It may be possible to remove the 1/4" bolt and have an open hole on the pedistal riser. If the cables are still held securely by the clamp, then moving the shift up and down the clamp will pass by the hole. You may be able to see (or feel) this hole and thread the bolt back into the clamp. Disassembly and reassembly of the steering pedistal is tough.
Boy am I glad for this post. I usually check mine but hadn't this season and it was very loose! I had mine come out many years ago and after removing the compass I was able to fish it back into place with a dowel or rod. It wasn't easy but better than disassembly.
It's my lucky day!! With the boat at least!!
After talking to Jim S last evening I went to the boat this afternoon and sure enough there in the cockpit was a pan head 1/4" screw laid in the sole, I manipulated the shifter and low and behold a threaded hole appeared right where Jim said it would be, the screw engaged without any problem and everything is good at the dock.
Thanks to all and yes this is one of the check frequently bits damn that list gets bigger and bigger.
Ed
You might consider just a bit of loctite on the threads to help keep it in place. I used a very long screwdriver to help line it up with the hole after I had replaced both cables.
Dirk
I can only imagine the chinese fire drill that ensued when this happened. You think you are going to back down, instead the Westerbeast comes full ahead. A video with a hidden camera would probably do quite a bit for the cruising kitty.
I replaced the shift cable on Abracadabra not long ago and that clamp was interesting to put back. I did do it without removing the steering shaft by using a brazing rod with a crook on the end to help position it. I bent the end of the rod and put it through the screw hole in the clamp. When the screw went in, it pushed the brazing rod out the back.
A lot less stressful than hanging over the stern of a catamaran remounting the steering cylinder after it sheared a mounting bolt 30 miles south of Pensacola, which is one of the projects we tackled this past week. New boat, new problems...Still a good trip though. Now if we can get it from Mobile, Al. to home in a couple of weeks...
I had a problem regarding the sail gear cable that is worth mentioning in this thread. When I initially got the boat I noticed that it would sometimes not go into gear. I pulled the compass and the problem was obvious.
There is a clevis pin that attached the gear cable to the end of the lever. If you put the pin in toward the rear the long end of the pin will catch on the binnacle housing. That causes the lever to jam. Turning the pin around so the cotter pin hole is forward solved the problem. The flat head of the clevis pin easily clears the housing.
Pete W.
Yep- ours had washers on the cotter pin end. When I realised what they were for, I put them back.
Well it's that time of year again, getting ready to cruise for a week and checked that screw on the clamp. Yup needed almost 1 turn to tighten!