This original marine steering system was manufactured by Kiekhaefer Corporation out of Beaver Dam WI. Better known as Mercury, Kiekhaefer manufactured these steering systems designed for dealers to install them into new boats.
My issue was the back of the steering cable where it attaches to the motor. The steering rod was rusted into the steering tube. Trying to salvage the cable proved fruitless. After liberating the cable from the boat I cut the steel tube off but made a critical error and cut through the outer sleeve of the steering cable. I took the cable and had the tube rewelded at the cut but the welding flash was blocking the cable from going past the weld.
Going back to the drawing board I dug out a NOS Quick Silver steering attachment kit I bought off of Ebay. Most of the parts were the same as my setup but the steering tube was a larger diameter than my steering cable so I never used it. So I went in search of a 13' steering cable to match the mounting kit.
I was lucky to find a 13'6" Mercury 76043A13 "Super Ride Guide"cable (dated 11-28-90) from Precision Marine in Rancho Cordova, CA. This cable was a take off and is a heavier cable than my original (with a larger diameter steering rod and tube) but the under dash connection is identical to my Ride Guide steering ram under the dash.
The dealer who setup our boat matched the Scott Motor Gauges and and Quick Silver steering system into a very nice dash layout. When I was repainting the motor I stripped the gauges and steering wheel and gave them a coat of Wake White to match the motor. Then I added the red lower accent to the steering wheel to match the two tone motor cowl.
The final touch was the OEM Ride Guide emblem from http://www.marineengine.com.
Now I need an upper emblem for the steering wheel. I've seen these where they have Quicksilver and/or Dorsett lettering on the top. I've never seen any for sale so I may need to have it made.
'60 Dorsett Belmont with DORSETT label on the Quicksilver steering wheel.
'60 Dorsett Belmont with QUICKSILVER label on the Quicksilver steering wheel.
Hey, good documentation of your project. I'm at the tail end of a rebuild of a 1957 Cruiser Holiday and like you, our original ride guide cable was shot. I'm unable to find a 13' cable in good condition so am considering putting in a SeaStar Teleflex assembly. But I want to use my original wheel and escutcheon. What is the diameter of the Mercury shaft? (mine is up in Connecticut with the motor, being refinished). The Teleflex is a 3/4' tapered, threaded rod. Thanks and great job, S
ReplyDeleteI assume you are referring to #21 in the picture. I'm not sure what the diameter is... 3/4 sounds about right but its hard to say with out taking it apart. I'm betting you'd need to cut the top off and use it to mate with your wheel and weld the bottom to the Teleflex shaft to mate with the rack. Sounds like a cool project!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you use to glue the emblem to the wheel?
ReplyDeleteI used double faced tape. It holds well but can be removed and replaced if I need to remove the steering wheel.
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