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Posted by Stags12 on 06/30/18 - 3:25 PM

I have a 1986 evinrude 70 hp that is in decent shape, it's on 16 classic im trying to fix up a bit. I am wanting to convert it to a cable steer setup, the boat had a pulley steer system that I got rid of.

Seems pretty straight forward to convert but I've ran into a head scratcher. The tilt tube on motor looks to be in decent shape, from what I've seen steering cables typically attach to the starboard side of the motor. On this motor there isn't a lot of threads on that side of the motor and there is a full size locking nut. If you look at the opposite end of the tilt tube there is enough threads to attach a steering cable and a skinny jam nut. Can a steering cable be mounted in this orientation? It is just opposite of every motor I've seen before.

Thank you for your help.

Posted by Weatherly on 07/01/18 - 3:56 AM

Loosen nut on one side of tilt tube and tighten on the opposite side to expose more thread on tilt tube. PB-Blaster penetrating oil will be your friend in this task. Block skeg to reduce load on tilt tube, to allow easier movement.

Edited by Weatherly on 07/01/18 - 3:58 AM

Posted by Stags12 on 07/01/18 - 8:29 AM

Weatherly wrote:
Loosen nut on one side of tilt tube and tighten on the opposite side to expose more thread on tilt tube. PB-Blaster penetrating oil will be your friend in this task. Block skeg to reduce load on tilt tube, to allow easier movement.

Ok. I think I'll need a new jam nut.

Posted by Weatherly on 07/02/18 - 6:11 AM

Stags12:

While you only asked about the tilt tube, there are others questions and issues that will come up as you convert your steering system. New cable length? How to install the cable on the outboard? Type of mechanical steering to buy? Drag link? How to clean out the tilt tube using steering tube cleaning brushes? You will quickly realize: "Oh, ya, the rightside interior transom eyelet is in the way."

All of the information you need to do this job right is retrievable from this website. Unlike any other website that hosts Boston Whaler members, this is the go-to site for technical information and other easy to find resources.

Posted by Stags12 on 07/05/18 - 9:25 PM

Weatherly wrote:
Stags12:

While you only asked about the tilt tube, there are others questions and issues that will come up as you convert your steering system. New cable length? How to install the cable on the outboard? Type of mechanical steering to buy? Drag link? How to clean out the tilt tube using steering tube cleaning brushes? You will quickly realize: "Oh, ya, the rightside interior transom eyelet is in the way."

All of the information you need to do this job right is retrievable from this website. Unlike any other website that hosts Boston Whaler members, this is the go-to site for technical information and other easy to find resources.

That is the only question I had, I purchased a safe-t helm and cable kit 18' for a large loop, a Johnson drag arm PN 173694. Today I took the jam nut off the left side of the tilt tube with a 32mm and and impact wrench and it is only threaded about 3/4" on that side so with the nut on there there is about two exposed threads. I can see where the threads stop. I'm going to leave the jam nut off that side and just attach the steering cable collar to the tube. The tilt tube is not going anywhere I backed the other jam nut off and gave it some serious love taps and it didn't budge. I also took a 12ga shotgun barrel brush and attached it to a drill and cleaned up the inside of the tube.

Also I answered my own question while thinking, I cannot hook up the steering cable on the other end of the tilt tube because my steering would be backwards.

Posted by johnyrude200 on 07/06/18 - 10:08 AM

You can install the cable through the port side, you just feed the other end of the cable through the other hole in the seastar/teleflex helm and it will steer correctly.

I do about 100 of these installations a year on whalers and many other boats. Its pretty simple not a lot of magic behind it.

Posted by Stags12 on 07/06/18 - 11:19 PM

johnyrude200 wrote:
You can install the cable through the port side, you just feed the other end of the cable through the other hole in the seastar/teleflex helm and it will steer correctly.

I do about 100 of these installations a year on whalers and many other boats. Its pretty simple not a lot of magic behind it.

Thank you! I haven't gotten my helm assembly yet and never really installed one so I haven't read the directions.