Engine control cable breakage on 41 DS

[joelh]

Has anyone had a similar problem with the engine control/throttle cable breaking?

My boat is a 41 DS with a sail drive.

I experienced a potential dangerous probnlem that I think may be related to a design problem with the Jeanneau 41 DS. After only two years of use, the cable from the control arm to the engine broken just at the first bend from the engine down to the floor boards. The control cable makes about a 90 degree turn both at that point and again as the cable progress to the stern of the boat.

The turn is made even more acute when the wooden enclosure at the rear of the engine is closed and the wooden lip pushes the cable forward another inch or so.



With great difficulty, the cable has been replaced.

JoelH

[chinagirl]

We have a 41DS with a sail drive and have not had a problem.  But although she a 2014 boat the engine hours are only about 200.
Steve

[whiteswan]

Dear Joelh and other 41DS OWNERS.

I own a 2015 Jeanneau 41DS with approximately 230 engine hours, and during the summer also experienced a similar engine control cable failure. The gear select cable snapped and was stuck in reverse gear during manoeuvring from our berth.

It would appear from your post that our cable failed prematurely in the same bend at the back of the saildrive. An inspection carried out by a local Marine Engineer concluded that the original control cable was installed poorly with a too tight bend into the back of the saildrive. The cable manufacturer recommends in their installation guide a minimum cable bend (radius) of 8 inches. The design of the wooden enclosure at the back of the engine prevents a good cable run to the saildrive, therefore in my opinion a poor design.

Although the warranty period had expired on my yacht, l did pursue the matter with the local agent who was very supportive but however Jeanneau had failed to propose an alternative design and solution to the premature cable failure.

The original control cable was replaced by the Marine Engine to an other cable supplier  Multiflex which l’m told is a better quality cable and can tolerate tighter bends.

[heatherina]

Watching this one with interest..
Anyone know the cable specs. - diameter/length?

Thanks
Ian

[whiteswan]

Colin,

did you you manage to Re-route the cable to improve the sharp bend in the gearbox?

[heatherina]

Many thanks for the update and information.

Do you know if they used the same length of cable?

[MalcolmP]

May 15, 2019 8:49:19 GMT colinadams320 said:

Had a reply from the Jeanneau broker with a solution for refitting the cable and avoiding the 90 degree bend.
Diagram from Jeanneau shows rotate the control arm on the engine 90 degrees and gently swoop the cable back into the floor and under the rear bed.
This was carried out yesterday by marine power at Gosport. 
The engineers opinion was that the reason it wasn't installed like this in the first place was that is how the engines get delivered to Jeanneau ( and a bit like reversing a fridge door ) the people in the factory could be bothered to do it.
The broker said that Jeanneau will pay for the new cable, the insurance company are paying £7000 for our repairs and the other owner of the boat we hit are paying £6400 for his repairs.
I have expressed to the broker that all owners should be informed of this fault to avoid anyone getting injured.

Colin

Glad you now have it sorted and no one was injured.

If you might be able to take a photo of the reroute I can put this with a warning for other 41DS owners on our Hints and Tips Safety index  www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtipsindexsafety.html

Also if any 41DS owners have a photo of the original install that would be really helpful

Malcolm

[heatherina]

Will be changing/rerouting our cable when we get back the the UK this week. Will be interested to see any photos.

Ian

[heatherina]

Present cable  run on Heatherina  


www.23hq.com/Heatherina/photo/55227303/original

[heatherina]

New cable and cable run.


www.23hq.com/Heatherina/photo/55621686/original

[MalcolmP]

Thanks for those photos, is the new blue cable more flexible? If there might be a chance of taking another photo of the revised layout that would be great (the cap from the coolant tank and pipe is unfortunately hanging in front which maybe a bit confusing..) I will add to Hints and Tips as soon as I can

Malcolm

[heatherina]

Hello Malcolm

Yes the cable is a Multiflex Edge, still 20ft in length, which can support a tighter bend radius. Bought from Wetworks in the UK. Moving the gear selector lever and bracket to the stbd side of the gearbox allows for a better sweep in for the cable.
I did add washers below the split pin at the gearbox end. This was to ensure it does not foul on the cover studs. There is a Yanmar technical bulletin on this.
The connection of the lever at the helm needs to be changed from the bottom to the top as the lever action need to be swapped, push instead of pull.
Bit time consuming removing the old cable due to cable ties.
Will take a better photo this week.
Ian

[MalcolmP]

I have now made a permanent Hints and Tips article on this issue:

www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/so41dscontrolcables.html

[puravida35]

Looks like a great modification. Also has added benefit of better access to the saildrive seacock.

[ianb]

Hi everyone, does this look like it’s been modified already?



Thanks 

[whiteswan]

Yes from the photograph, the cable bracket has been turned 90 degrees. Improving the cable run.

[ianb]

Thought so but wanted to double check….thanks!