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Author Topic:   Length of Motor Control Cable

Tom C posted 12-20-2013 11:44 AM ET (US)
In reworking a 1988 15 Super Sport I found that the motor control cable is 6-10 feet longer than it needs to be. The excess has been coiled and tied but takes up room under the thwart seat. Is this normal, and is there another way to deal with it short of cutting it and having all those connections to deal with. The motor is a 60 HP Johnson.
AZdave posted 12-20-2013 06:23 PM ET (US)
That's a lot of extra cable. If you bought a new steering system, there should have been a number of different length cables available. The cable should be just long enough to make easy, large radius curves when needed.
Tom C posted 12-21-2013 01:46 PM ET (US)
This is not the steering cable but the cable that goes from the motor to the motor controls.
jimh posted 12-22-2013 02:48 PM ET (US)
If you have a 1988 Johnson outboard engine, you can see the available rigging accessories on
SHOP.EVINRUDE.COM
For example, see
http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=nfsu3ldnd8knvv0njljgi4qmo5& catalog_id=0&siteid=1
The engine WIRING KIT was available in two lengths. One of 20-feet and another of 28-feet. You can also just order the INSTRUMENT CABLE ASSY. It also comes in 20- and 28-foot lengths.
I do not recommend cutting the wiring to length. You could do that at the helm end, as the cable terminates in common ring terminal connectors or spade connectors. But this would put you at risk for falling into the situation described in a corollary to Murphy's Law: Any cable cut to length will be too short.
jimh posted 12-22-2013 02:56 PM ET (US)
In my experience it is very common that electrical cable harnesses between the helm and the outboard engine for the engine electrical circuits are kept at the pre-made length, and the excess cable is coiled or otherwise contained and stowed. There is not much to be gained by shortening the cables in the electrical realm. The only advantage of shortening would likely be in a cosmetic aspect or to make the wiring neater. Having several extra feet of electrical cable coiled up and stowed will not affect the operation of the electrical circuits.
On the other hand, mechanical linkages are very much affected by having cables that are too short or too long, so those cable assemblies are typical made up in one-foot increments.
Tom C posted 12-22-2013 08:15 PM ET (US)
Thanks Jim, The extra length has been stored for the past 25 years so I guess I will find some way to store it for a little longer. Just hate to have something else to take up room.

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Author	Topic: Length of Motor Control Cable
Tom C	posted 12-20-2013 11:44 AM ET (US) In reworking a 1988 15 Super Sport I found that the motor control cable is 6-10 feet longer than it needs to be. The excess has been coiled and tied but takes up room under the thwart seat. Is this normal, and is there another way to deal with it short of cutting it and having all those connections to deal with. The motor is a 60 HP Johnson.
AZdave	posted 12-20-2013 06:23 PM ET (US) That's a lot of extra cable. If you bought a new steering system, there should have been a number of different length cables available. The cable should be just long enough to make easy, large radius curves when needed.
Tom C	posted 12-21-2013 01:46 PM ET (US) This is not the steering cable but the cable that goes from the motor to the motor controls.
jimh	posted 12-22-2013 02:48 PM ET (US) If you have a 1988 Johnson outboard engine, you can see the available rigging accessories on SHOP.EVINRUDE.COM For example, see http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=nfsu3ldnd8knvv0njljgi4qmo5& catalog_id=0&siteid=1 The engine WIRING KIT was available in two lengths. One of 20-feet and another of 28-feet. You can also just order the INSTRUMENT CABLE ASSY. It also comes in 20- and 28-foot lengths. I do not recommend cutting the wiring to length. You could do that at the helm end, as the cable terminates in common ring terminal connectors or spade connectors. But this would put you at risk for falling into the situation described in a corollary to Murphy's Law: Any cable cut to length will be too short.
jimh	posted 12-22-2013 02:56 PM ET (US) In my experience it is very common that electrical cable harnesses between the helm and the outboard engine for the engine electrical circuits are kept at the pre-made length, and the excess cable is coiled or otherwise contained and stowed. There is not much to be gained by shortening the cables in the electrical realm. The only advantage of shortening would likely be in a cosmetic aspect or to make the wiring neater. Having several extra feet of electrical cable coiled up and stowed will not affect the operation of the electrical circuits. On the other hand, mechanical linkages are very much affected by having cables that are too short or too long, so those cable assemblies are typical made up in one-foot increments.
Tom C	posted 12-22-2013 08:15 PM ET (US) Thanks Jim, The extra length has been stored for the past 25 years so I guess I will find some way to store it for a little longer. Just hate to have something else to take up room.