PA Steering upgrade?

[romspacenut]

Awesome idea Tony. I got a few feet of that size sleeve. Gonna give it a try too. Thanks!

[Mike scales]

Great idea! I'm trying to fix mine for the second time also.
Finally found a blue print (wasn't easy) on where and how the cables route inside the hull, because the first time was a guessing game.

[tsugg]

So I'm still a noob around here but I've found out that I really look forward to any reports from team sewer(which are frequent) for their insight, knowledge of fishing and above all else, the videos!!! I've realised that tony in a talented fisherman- great videographer - Handsome and now this steering fix. He's macgiver all in one package!!! All you guys from team sewer are A-Ok !

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by tsugg

So I'm still a noob around here but I've found out that I really look forward to any reports from team sewer(which are frequent) for their insight, knowledge of fishing and above all else, the videos!!! I've realised that tony in a talented fisherman- great videographer - Handsome and now this steering fix. He's macgiver all in one package!!! All you guys from team sewer are A-Ok !

You don't have to kiss his ass, just buy him lunch and he love you long time

[tsugg]

Tony, where does the cable break? Right at the grommet?

[alanw]

Just replace that crap line with some power pro or something and be done with it.

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by alanw

Just replace that crap line with some power pro or something and be done with it.

Your a fucking genius sometimes you know that!


The factory steering line is like 1000 pound test spectra, and is chafing against the grommet so much so that it is failing. Its not failing after one trip its after many. Fix the chafing fix the problem.

[alanw]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Your a fucking genius sometimes you know that!


The factory steering line is like 1000 pound test spectra, and is chafing against the grommet so much so that it is failing. Its not failing after one trip its after many. Fix the chafing fix the problem.

Ha sorry looks like kite string in the photo. Maybe you can replace the crap grommet with a polished fairlead instead?

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by tsugg

Tony, where does the cable break? Right at the grommet?

Yes it breaks right at the grommet. If you havent yet, you should at least inspect the steering line where it rides thru the grommet for wear, and repair if needed. I think this problem mainly seems to be assosiated with PAs that have the steering tension knob. When you got that tension knob cranked down for that nice tight steering everybody likes....it really starts to wear on that grommet.

[wiredantz]

Tony, have you thought about wire for the rudder lines.

My trident 15 comes with wire to connect to the rudder, don't know if it will help you.

Actually I think the wire on the PA would probably eat through the plastic...

[RedSledTeam]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Yes it breaks right at the grommet. If you havent yet, you should at least inspect the steering line where it rides thru the grommet for wear, and repair if needed. I think this problem mainly seems to be assosiated with PAs that have the steering tension knob. When you got that tension knob cranked down for that nice tight steering everybody likes....it really starts to wear on that grommet.

Tony,
To understand your issue better, I acquired a PA14 and had my resident Junior engineer-in-training evaluate your problem with the steering cable failure...
IMG-20140920-01852.jpg
Here is Rockin’ Rolan with his eye on the problem… After thorough inspection of the steering cable system and geometry, we found the following suspect failure areas...
IMG-20140920-01861.jpg
The probable cause of failure is the contact friction-abrasion on the spectra caused by the angle of the cable as it relates to the fer rule/hard grommet. Furthermore, when tension is increased, the side-effect (pun intended) is increased abrasion exacerbated by higher tension-ing of the spectra cable (think of a bow-saw).
PA_FRICTION.jpg
Your suggestion of an ultra-smooth ferrule would last longer, but still may cause friction in the long run. Further we have determined the root cause of the failure is the linear direction of the cable going from the pulley to the rudder post bell crank. The existing angle causes friction at the ferrule/grommet. This geometry acts like a cable saw on the feed-through ferrule. Problem is the ferrule material is harder than the spectra cable causing contact abrasion and wears down the spectra first . If you can change that angle with an extra pulley etc., we at Redsledteam think it will resolve the problem.

[tsugg]

If I can't go fishing the next best thing EVER is the intertainment value of BWE. A reality show is so close !! I can see Tony with his first emmy or oscar!!!