Helm Port Ballast Control Cable Replacement

[barefootinjimmy]

Boat:2005 SANTE
What is involved in replacing the helm port ballast control cable? It appears to be routed under the fuel tank. Please tell me that I do not have to pull the fuel tank to replace this cable?

How is this replacement accomplished?

[NautiqueJeff]

Are you sure the cable is broken? I have heard of these coming disconnected at the knob.

[barefootinjimmy]

It appears to be stuck, and does not move. I plan to inspect this shortly.

[dfoster]

It appears to be stuck, and does not move. I plan to inspect this shortly.

I had this problem on my 2004 SV211... so may be similar. It showed as two different problems.
1. The lever on the back of the knob had broken off (had to remove the knob to see this)
2. The cable was pretty stuck, which had caused #1 as the PO had tried to move the lever

Really all three cables were not great... so I was able to get two of them to work better just by putting some light oil into each end and moving the cables back and forth and re-adjusting the cables/valve alignment. For one of them it wouldn't move easily and I only was able to bend the cable so had to replace it as well as the broken knob.

On the SV, the cable runs down the side of the hull and comes out right next to the fuel tank. I was able to tape the new cable to the old one and pull the old one through to feed the new one along. A little bit of swearing and sticking my hands in through cup holders to jiggle the cable helped get it unstuck and pulled through.

I've learned now to make sure I put some lube (T9 Boeshield) on the cables and work that in before I winterize to avoid this (knock on wood). But really, I would love to throw away the mechanical valves and change over to either impellers or an electric valve.

Doug

[barefootinjimmy]

I have determine the cable needs to be replaced. I disconnected both ends and tried pull it out and it would not move.
Any suggestions or comments?

How do I remove the helm port side ballast cable on a 2005 SAN? Does the gas tank have to be removed first?

[Mikeski]

Changed my 2005 fill pumps to impellers in 2008 and trashed those PITA valves. One of the best upgrades I've made to the boat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dfoster]

Changed my 2005 fill pumps to impellers in 2008 and trashed those PITA valves. One of the best upgrades I've made to the boat.

Mikeski,

Just checking, but you just did the fill side, and left the empty the same? Also, do the impellers seem any slower? The specs look lower for Jabsco (640GPH) vs. an aerator pump (1100GPH). Debating changing to impellers or putting in electronic valves and keeping the aerator, but I know there is more to it than just the basic pump rating.

Would be nice to not have to worry about the cables and valves. I'm guessing this has been discussed/debated before, so feel free to point me to another thread.

[Brichter14]

Why do these old systems have manual valves. My entire system is an aerator system and i just have in line check valves.

[dfoster]

At speed, with the valves open, the water pressure will push past the valves and slowly fill the tanks. Mine still leak slightly when "closed" unless I also close the ball valves. A check valve wouldn't stop that on the fill side.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk