Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

My 1992 shift cable jacket broke/rusted/melted/? and the whole cable needs to be replaced. Does anyone know a shift cable part number that would fit the 18SX model?

And how do I get the right side upholstered panel off so I can get to the ties to release the old cable and route the new?

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Wellcraft tells us nothing relating to what cable you need. What is your power option OMC, MC, Volvo? The controls are specific to each one.

On near end of your cable should be numbers cable type and length either in inches or feet. Upholstery can be fastened many ways. Some have nuts in the back you need to remove, some have screws that usually hide in the seams of the upholstery. Some have little caps that cover the screws.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Thanks for jumping in to dialog. The drive is a Volvo Penta 230. The shift lever is labeled Excel.

The screws I can see appear to be under the body of the upholstery. There is one bolt with a nut up inside the panel, but it is bent and appears to turn when attempting to remove the nut.

Not trying to make it hard, just sort of out of ideas and think I may be missing something I should be doing.

I have both ends of the cable loose but no way to get it out of all the ties. I could leave it there and route a new cable differently but I have not been able to find any replacement part number.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Just went out and checked the screws again and the upholstery seams are folded over and the screws are hidden in there. I took a couple out and will work on the rest during lunch hour or sometime. So this was a great help to allow me to start moving forward again. Assuming I get it out soon, I will then focus on how to find a replacement part.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Please keep this thread updated. I have a Excel 20SX that I want to replace the shift cable on this winter. It's fine, but feels like it binds occasionally when trying to put the lever in gear.

I'm interested to hear your experience and where you found the correct parts.

Thanks
Ken

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Ken, assuming you have a Volvo drive like the OP, you can use any brand shift cable that have the proper ends. You just need to figure out the length. Often the part number of the cable indicates the length. I personally like the teleflex extreme cables.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Thanks Bruce. Was not aware of that. Maybe I'll do this sooner rather than later...

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Typically the ends are the same on both the shifter and drive side.


Here is an example of one that you would probably need. They have them in various lengths.
http://www.iboats.com/3300-Xtreme-C...7093229--**********.257928870--view_id.169423

I suggest supporting the cable with cable ties along its entire length if possible.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Here is the update of sorts. Two hours has gotten a half dozen screws out of the upholstery. And three bolts out of the side panel, two of which came out of the outside rub strip where the top and bottom of the hull join.

Still have not gotten the side panel out due to the wires and cables on the shifter. Need to pull the shifter but cannot figure out the correct way. There appear to be three plastic plugs and a fourth hole around the shift hub. There is no screw in the open hole and I cannot pry anything out of what looks like plugs. The only fastener I can see either inside or out is the screw in the middle of the lever pivot. Does removing the lever from the hub allow the whole shift module to be removed?

By the way, there is a two connector wire not hooked up to a switch on the shifter mechanism. Would this be a lockout to not start in gear? I think the wire goes forward by have not confirmed absolutely. Maybe it does not matter as it has run this way for some time.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Probably is your neutral start switch that someone bypassed...not a good idea. Try turning the engine over when in gear and see what happens being careful with people standing near the prop.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Did get the cable out. Learned how to dismount the shift module by popping the square bezel cover off the front from behind the removed lever. Still had to cut the trim switch wires to get it free.

Cable is 14' and looks like the standard 3300 shown above. Think I will also replace throttle cable given the effort so far and the throttle movement is not smooth. The nearest boat store (100 miles away) says that will be 14' also and I am having someone pick it up who is coming this way. Cross my fingers that it will be the right cables.

Want to lube the shift lever well to make it operate smoothly. What is the best lube to use? Lever is aluminum and runs on plastic. Silicon would work but not last long. Is lithium grease OK to use?

Wish I could install a Teleflex NLP no back force steering gear while the side panel is off but don't know how to get one here and on without missing the next couple of week's boating. Does anyone have feedback on the value of this upgrade?

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

You should be able to look at the throttle cable as well and get the length number off of it or just take it out and measure it.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

Actually I am not able to pick up any markings off either cable. I suppose they are some OEM that came on the boat. The throttle runs under the engine and back up so is close to length going through transom. Maybe a little shorter.

Re: Wellcraft Excel shift cable replacement ideas

If the new cable is a foot or two too long you should be ok since there is not as much pressure on it as the shift cable and can tolerate a little more bending.