Throttled Back

With the boat yard work complete, I set to work doing several other fun projects aboard Quijote.  Some jobs have been rather small, like rebuilding the toilet pump and replacing the bathroom door latch that was broken last summer (sending a broken spring flying across the cabin).  Other jobs are a little more challenging.

Replacing the throttle cable on this boat (also broken last summer) takes some effort.  We were motoring southbound down Discovery Passage past Campbell River last summer, when the engine rpm suddenly cut out.  As it became evident, the engine didn’t die, it had just gone to idle.  My first instinct was to check the throttle cable and that was indeed the problem.  The cable came apart where it connects to the engine.  I was able to coax it back into submission with duct tape and bailing wire, a fix that lasted us all the way home.  That’s a good thing, because it was necessary to disassemble the steering pedestal to get the cable disconnected from the shift lever.

As long as I have the steering pedestal dismantled, why not replace those steering wheel bearings that have been squealing off and on for as long as I’ve owned the boat?  Of coarse bearing replacement made the job considerably more complicated.  I had to slacken the steering cables, disconnect the chain that goes over a sprocket on the steering shaft and remove the shaft and bearing assembly. With that, I sent the assembly to a shop that can remove the old bearings and press in new ones.  The shop that does that, is out of action (for reasons I don’t completely understand) due to the government shutdown.  So it goes.  Who knew the shutdown would affect me so directly?  Lets hope the shutdown ends before the summer (for many reasons).