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My gear shift cable broke. Exactly the same as last time (about 5 years ago).

It broke inside the sheath, right where it enters the motor. The tip of the rigid cable is bent, as if from repeated compression.

Makes me wonder if I've got the throttle adjusted correctly. I think it might be slamming into gear too hard. (If it doesn't go into gear fast, it will grind the gears.)

But this is going to keep happening. To my eye, the cable routing is poorly thought out. Evey time the motor tilts up and down, these cables are put under a lot of stress.

Honda BF50. Can't remember what length I ordered last time. I think it was 12ft.

Hello,
Prolly getting kinked when tilted up and turned with it up.

there are different of quality cables.

When I bought my in 2011 they put a good and a cheap cable. Now the cheap one broke...
I could feel the difference easily: the bad one is very hard to bend.

What Don and Kurz said.

Cable routing is the least thought out design factor of any mechanical device!

I bought the cables through Dowsar last time.

Any chance BWY would have them? Or do I have to go through Honda?

DaveC426913 wrote:I bought the cables through Dowsar last time.

Any chance BWY would have them? Or do I have to go through Honda?

I got mine from Defender when I changed them out. Any well stocked marine supply will have them. They are pretty standard cables. The various engine manufacturers have their own termination standard as well. All you need to know is the length of the cable and the engine it is attaching to. Then choose the grade of cable you want.

When I replaced my cables, I ran them under the steering, but at an angle, with a big loop to the starboard side where they pass through. The bend isn't as severe as it looks, and the cables work smoothly. With the OB tilted up all the way, they bend the other way. I'm splitting the difference here. I seem to remember that the PO had them above the steering tie rod, and they really go crunched with the engine up.





And no, it's not usually that dirty back there, but it was taken in the spring (I can tell by the little spruce needles from my FIL's driveway, where it's stored all winter). It's normally only half that dirty.

Oh, I got my replacements from my local West Marine, mainly because one was in tough shape and I wanted to get it finished and they had it on the shelf. I was reworking the remote control, and didn't want to open it back up to replace the cables, so I just bit the bullet and replaced them both.

Your problem may also involve a maladjusted remote. I can send you the installation guide for that OB, which includes remote control cable adjustments. If you want.

Tomfoolery wrote:And no, it's not usually that dirty back there,

omg, my well is caked with black gunk.

Tomfoolery wrote:Oh, I got my replacements from my local West Marine, mainly because one was in tough shape and I wanted to get it finished and they had it on the shelf. I was reworking the remote control, and didn't want to open it back up to replace the cables, so I just bit the bullet and replaced them both.

Your problem may also involve a maladjusted remote. I can send you the installation guide for that OB, which includes remote control cable adjustments. If you want.

I've got the big fat manual. But if yours is better/clearer that would be a big help.[/quote]

Those manuals drive me crazy; they're like a 'make your own story' book.
If you have a 10-25HP, go to p11, if you have anything bigger go to p23, unless you have a 245.5HP, in which case, see diagram on opposing page. (there's six diagrams)


I wish I had thought of West Marine before checking out BWY. I had no idea they had so many sparklies for my Mac! I racked up $200 before lunch time was done!

There's a much thinner installation manual, independent of the service manual, which I also have. It's on my work machine so I'll send it tomorrow. Send me your email via pm. Unless it's in your profile. In which case, [Roseanne Rosannadanna voice] never mind.