steering cable replacement on 1979 V20 Center Console

Redloon

Junior Member
I've got to replace the steering cable on my 1979 V20 CC. I believe I need a 15' cable. I did a search on the site and that is what I came up with. The white marking on both ends of my cable are worn to the point I cannot read them anymore. Does 15' sound right?

The other issue is that there are no lifting rings or attachment points on the Evinrude 150Hp motor. I'm thinking of wrapping a lifting strap around the motor and lifting it with my motor hoist. Using a lifting strap seems shaky to me though and I can see things slipping and the motor come crashing to the ground. Is there a better way to lift the motor in order to get the steering cable out?
 
15' sounds about right to me as I also have a '79. There are 3 bolt holes in the flywheel of your motor. You can bolt a lifting ring on that. I used a harmonic balancer puller with an eye bolt in the middle of it. Strapping a motor is always a last resort in my opinion.
 
3 Squids - thanks for the tip.

I was going to take the Mako 19 out fishing but it was raining this morning. Since I didn't go I decided to put some work into my 1977 (sorry - it's not a '79) V-20 CC project.

I did find a picture of what you described on the ClassicMako website. I'm definitely going this route instead of the straps. All my other Johnson motors have the lifting ring at the back of the block. The Evinrude 150 stumped me when I saw it.
 

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Yep that's exactly what I got. If I remember correctly the bolts are fine threaded 5/16. I guess it depends on the year.
 
Yep - 5/16"

This is what one of the gurus on Classicmako.com had posted some time ago:

There should be 3 bolt holes that you can use right in the flywheel. They are 5/16-24 (5/16" dia and 24 threads per inch, otherwise known as UNF). You can use a flywheel puller as a lift eye or fabricate a plate with a loop to lift it.
 
Dang... that's exactly what I have to do... I have a 225 Johnson Looper that's coming off my 78' and being replaced with a 200 Merc.

I have an almost new (1/2 season old) steering cable from that 19' Center console I scrapped last week. I have to measure it but I think it's 15 feet long. PM me if you're interested.
 
Thanks for the offer Destroyer.

I just ordered a new NFB 4.2 15' steering kit from Wholesale Marine last night. My cable broke at the end that loops thru the steering gear leaving me with about a 6" stub coming out of the jacketed end. I figured it was time to replace the gear also so bit the bullet and placed the order.

I usually run 3 turns end-to-end on the steering and decided to try the 4.2 turns model on this one.
 
Back to my question about lifting the Evinrude 150 motor in order to change the steering cable. I found this while searching the internet:

It is a little pricey but might give better control if it bolts up right next to the flywheel.

I also read on iboats that the bolts should be grade 8. Anyway - here is what I found (and will order one):


Johnson - Evinrude V4 and V6 1977 & Newer Lifting eye:

http://www.bobsmachine.com/Johnson-Evinrude-V4-and-V6-1977-Newer-Lifting-eye-317-000000.htm

 
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