Installing shifter cable with bell housing off

[jonny rotten]

I'm reading the cable can get twisted up inside the boat while screwing the shifter cable in the bellhousing. I have the bellhousing off. Seems easier to screw it it in with bell housing off then just lift it unto place while sliding the cable through the boot.
My main concern is the threads in the bell housing and stripping it out. Seems if installed off the boat there will be less resistance while screwing it in as the cable will spin freely
I've watched every video and read about every thread on shifter cable replacement and it hasnt been mentioned once.....am I missing something

 

[Bt Doctur]

Either way works only if you keep the cable as straight as possible or have someone inside the boat turning the cable with you

 

[72 Chesapeake]

yes it is best to install the cable with the bell housing off the boat. When i did mine I had the bell housing mounted in a vise and threaded the cable into it. Then fed the cable through the transom with the bellows slid over it. I was changing all bellows and decided to do the outer cable as well

 

[achris]

When you pulled the old cable out, you had a pull cord attached, yes? (Going to be fun putting the new cable in if you didn't. )

Chris....

 

[cchamp]

When you pulled the old cable out, you had a pull cord attached, yes? (Going to be fun putting the new cable in if you didn't. )

Chris....

Can you explain why? Is it just making sure you follow the same routing?

 

[achris]

Yes, to follow the same route, and that's because without the cord to guide it, the new cable has a tendency to (IE, will!) dive down and under the engine (if the flywheel housing doesn't stop it dead!), not up and around the steering ram, as it needs to. And once it's under the engine, you can't pull it up. But to get it to curve up the right way, you need to have you hand where your hand doesn't fit, and a helper pushing the cable in... As I said, have fun.

Chris......

 

[jonny rotten]

Yes, to follow the same route, and that's because without the cord to guide it, the new cable has a tendency to (IE, will!) dive down and under the engine (if the flywheel housing doesn't stop it dead!), not up and around the steering ram, as it needs to. And once it's under the engine, you can't pull it up. But to get it to curve up the right way, you need to have you hand where your hand doesn't fit, and a helper pushing the cable in... As I said, have fun.

Chris......

Yup.I ran a chaser. First I tried to use weed wacker line that got me nowhere. So I just reused the old inner core. Not sure why I never saw using it in my endless research. It was clean and non rusted so I know it didnt contaminate the new sheathing