Extremely Stiff Throttle Cables

[ocean spirit]

1971 53 my lower helm throttles are extremely stiff, stb side a little worse than port. Upper helm throttles are smooth with just the right amount resistance. If I disconnect upper helm cables at the engines then my lower helm throttles operate normally. Boat is equipped with synchronizer which operates normally as well. Any suggestions as where to start. Thanks

[jim rosenthal]

Is this something that happened recently, or were the boat's controls always like this?

I'm assuming that when you move the lower control levers, the upper levers move as well, right?

[Oldlaxer1]

I'm going to go out on a limb here but do you have a cover on your upper helm station that could be causing friction on the throttles?

[sgharford]

I'm going to go out on a limb here but do you have a cover on your upper helm station that could be causing friction on the throttles?

Dam I hate when I find that out as all the lines are untied and I'm trying to put the boat in gear from the lower helm.

[SEVEN]

Make sure the ( not sure what it’s called ) (Throttle Body?) where the cables connects to the motor has not been bent by someone from your boats past. Mine was on it caused stiffness/ binding. Once I corrected it, it was much smoother. Hope it helps.

[piripucha]

I am having the same problems with mine. The FB trotle cables are stif. I saw on youtube some australian guy that the first thing he does when he bought his boat was to lubricate its cables, by puting a hose in one of the ends and filled it with penetrating oil and pressurizing it with a small hand pump. He left it overnight and they smotth themselves. I will try this approach and let uou know.

[ocean spirit]

1971 53 my lower helm throttles are extremely stiff, stb side a little worse than port. Upper helm throttles are smooth with just the right amount resistance. If I disconnect upper helm cables at the engines then my lower helm throttles operate normally. Boat is equipped with synchronizer which operates normally as well. Any suggestions as where to start. Thanks

Thanks for all suggestions/opinions! Sounds like replacement of cables is in order. I’m assuming the inner cable only not the housing ? Should these be lubed and if so with what. Thks again

[jim rosenthal]

The inner cables aren't available by themselves, as far as I know, and anyway everything should be replaced as a unit. Smaller diameter cables have less frictional area and glide more easily. Look for the length measurement on the cable sheath and order accordingly; sometimes Hatteras has this info as well. The cost of the cables is not large, but the time involved pulling them through is considerable.

Also, before you go to all this effort, make sure nothing is binding or misadjusted in the control heads and on the engines and gears. Properly setting up cable controls is an art in itself; if you can find a very experienced marine mechanic to help you, it will go better and faster.

[Pascal]

To summarize your initial post, upper and lower helm cables are smooth if connected one at a time but stiff when both are connected, right? While you have twice the friction when both sets are connected I wonder if the problem isn’t the fact that when using the lower helm you are trying to move the upper controls with the cables. I would look at the upper controls and connections to make sure everything is tight and nothing bonds when pushing from the cable

[ocean spirit]

Will follow cables to insure no visible signs of kinks. Only lower helm throttles bind when all are connected. Is there a maximum bend in cable recommended?