Michel, The engine control cables are likely to blame, although the white delrin shift and throttle lever bushings on the Edson engine controls can, over time, swell up and make the levers difficult to move. First remove your compass. Then stick a rag down inside the pedestal to catch any items you may accidently drop down the pedestal. Then, If you disconnect the brass cable end clevis (remove the cotter pin and pin) from the levers inside the pedestal and the levers are still difficult to move, your problem is the bushings and those can be purchased through Edson directly at very little cost.
Over 30+ years of use may tend to wear out the control cables as well. You didn’t mention what engine and transmission is on your boat. If it is a Paragon gear box on an Atomic 4, you will need a different type of cable than on other gearboxes. If both throttle and shift cable have the same diameter, they are Morse/Teleflex series 33 (or 3300) cables and are easily purchased at a local marine outlet in a variety of lengths. If the shift cable is twice as large diameter, it is a series 64 cable and those are a bit harder to find, and generally don’t bend very easily, so it is best to try to buy the proper length cable. When changing cables, it is a good idea to read through the Edson engineering bulletin on changing cables as it is not an intuitive process. Read through the steps and bring the document with you (paper or electronic) when changing the cables on the boat: http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/PDFs/installation/EB396EngineControlInstr.PDF Many folks look at the engine control and assume they need to take the wheel shaft out of the pedestal to get to the cable clamp that holds the cables in place on the pedestal. Doing so will take a 2 hour job and turn it into a 7 hour job.. So my suggestion is to read the instructions and follow them. I would recommend that while you have the compass and engine control cylinder off the boat, it is a good idea to lube the steering chain with a light application of 30w oil, taking care to not spill oil on the brake shoes that grip the sprocket. Also, adding some Super Lube (Teflon grease) to the small holes that sit fore and aft of the wheel shaft in which the bearing sit, it a good idea. What is not a good idea is to spray WD 40 or any other petroleum based lubricant down those holes as the petrochemicals will deteriorate the bearing materials. Good to put a copy of the document linked below in your boat’s service manual. Josh’s suggestion of taking this opportunity to change the steering chain and cable is a valid one. When it comes to steering, I generally don’t like to wait until something fails to fix it. http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/PDFs/planning/EB381SteeringGuide.pdf If you need any other help with this project, the folks at Edson are very good at walking you through the process. Chuck Gilchrest S/V Half Magic 1983 35 Landfall Padanaram, MA From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Escale Nautique - Rédaction via CnC-List Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2016 6:20 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Escale Nautique - Rédaction <redact...@escalenautique.qc.ca> Subject: Stus-List Shift and gas control on C&C 29 Hi everybody, My gaz and shift control levers are becoming harder and harder to use on my C&C 29 (1984) My wife is unable to use the shifting lever, too stiff. Is there someting to do about it? Did one of you change the cables? I’m considering buying an ACTU Spinlock control and relocate thes controls elsewhere. Thanks for the help Michel Sacco Éditeur/Publisher L'Escale Nautique 535 route de la Montagne Notre-Dame-du-Portage Québec, Canada G0L 1Y0 Téléphone 418 863 5055 Télécopie 418 860 4674 <mailto:redact...@escalenautique.qc.ca> redact...@escalenautique.qc.ca <http://www.escalenautique.qc.ca> www.escalenautique.qc.ca
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