Transmission Cables

[Slow Ride]

Greetings - I need to replace both gearshift cables on my 1978 36' double cabin / Lehman 120. The throttle cables work just fine - the forward / reverse cables are the problem. The throttle / gear station is Morse. I have an upper and lower helm and both will be replaced.

Any idea on length / direct replacement cables and who I can source them from?

mike

[jleonard]

I replaced all of mine on my 40 3 years ago. I didn't know the measurements so I pulled them all and measured, then ordered. Defender, online sources, you can get them at many places.
Pull a piece of line thru with each cable to make pulling the new ones easy.
As it happened, 3 of mine were the same length, the fourth was longer (lower station shift cable).
I would recommend replacing all.

[Slow Ride]

What did you attach to the old lines to pull them with?

[jleonard]

A small dia nylon line 1/8 or 5/32" taped to the cable end

[RobS]

Agreed.....I use mason's line as pull cord - strong, cheap and easy to find anywhere.

[2manyboats]

Same here too. I tie the string to the cable and electrical tape above the knot; double the tag end over the tape and continue wrapping the two together until the cable is covered so it will not catch on anything while being pulled through bulkheads; wire bundles or whatever else may be in the way. Go slow and someone on the other end ready to pull backwards if it gets snagged. Usually a couple of back and forth's will get the stuck cable passed obstacles.
Wayne