Replacing shifter and cables - advice?

[GnrlPatton]

I posted last year about a broken shifter (here), and am now looking to replace it, along with the shifter cables. I definitely need to replace the shifter since it's gotten pretty sloppy in it's detents, and I thought that I would also replace the cables after trying out a friend's boat where he recently replaced his cables.

I've never done this before, so wondering if there's any advice that this forum could offer up.
I've found a replacement shifter and have identified a few cable options, but I don't know if I just cut the cables to length and then replace the threaded ends, or if I need to purchase the exact length of cable that I need. Access looks to be pretty good, so I would use the old cables to feed the new ones.

This is the shifter I'll replace: http://www.seastarsolutions.com/pro...s/mechanical-single-action/ch-5600-top-mount/ purchasing here: https://www.fisheriessupply.com/tel...-single-function-lever-engine-control/ch5600p

And these are the cables I'm looking at:
https://www.fisheriessupply.com/u-flex-machzero-premium-universal-control-cables


Any advice from the experts here?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[GnrlPatton]

Well, I started this project yesterday, yikes. I've got the old shifter out and stripped of reusable items (they don't come with the safety switches to prevent starting while in gear, so I used those from the old one). The new shifter is ready to drop in. I started pulling the cable on the starboard engine and got about 6 feet yanked through before I encountered a roadblock, I can't pull any more on it. Before starting to pull, I attached my fiberglass line puller to it so I could use that to pull the new cable back through, and now the whole thing is stuck with no way to pull any more either way.

I'm considering tying a line to the port side cable and pulling that one through now as well, and maybe that will dislodge whatever is holding it up as well as free up some space in the loom that the shift and throttle cables are in. Or maybe it will get stuck too and I'll be screwed. Will report back here on how it goes.

 

[GnrlPatton]

Wrapping this one up, it just took some muscle to get the old cables out, and I think it did help free things up when I started pulling the port cable at the same time. Getting the new cables routed back in was a 2 person job, there was a restriction right where it made the roughly 90 degree bend to go up to the helm from the engine room, and I needed an extra hand down in the ER to push/pull the cable while I was up at the helm doing the same. We eventually got both cables around the bend and then it was simple from there.

The new shifter has much less slop in it, and the new cables are so smooth. I highly recommend the job if you have a late 90s boat and still have the OEM cables!