I need to replace the cable on my scotty electric downrigger. Any tricks or advice on how you replace your downrigger cable would be appreciated.
The last time I replaced cable on a downrigger it was on a cannon manual. The replacement cable I bought had the snap for the ball on the end of the spool. I unspooled the whole thing across the yard, hooked up the end to the downrigger and rolled it on. A bit of a fiasco but not bad with only 150 feet of cable. Not sure the same method will be very good with 400 feet.

Baddawg,

Just zip into Teds. They have a spooling table & will throw it on and help you get your terminal setup ready too.

I prefer the Masons cable over the scotty cable. For some reason it seems to hold up longer and I loose less DR set ups. I cut the clip off at the end so it winds easier then put it back on when I'm finished.

1. Take you old cable off.
2. Run cable from refill spool (don't take it all off) through downrigger pulley and through a small hole in your downrigger spool that you will run the end of the new cable through.
3. Take a connector sleeve and run the end of the cable through once and then loop through again making a small loop (about the size of a dime or less).
4. Crimp the connector sleeve 3 times ...in the middle then on each end. I use a 4D .070 size crimpable connector sleeve.
5. Have someone hold the refill spool as you crank the new cable onto your downrigger spool (keep firm as you go to avoid loose wire on your downrigger spool). Pencil placed in the refill spool will help greatly.
6. Attach the swivel to the end using a couple connector sleeves.
7. Re-calibrate your depth meter to zero estimating where your swivel will enter the water.

This should all take about 20 minutes start to finish

I never hard secure the wire to the spool. If I run into trouble, I would rather the wire come off the spool than rip the DR off the gunwhale.

When I respool, I disconnect the counter. 400 feet is going to foul (throw off) the counter. Then run the [new wire] spool through a dowel and go to town.

Smart choice to go with 400 feet! A lot of folk don't like that much, but can save the day when you have a kink or fray 100 feet into the wire! Plus there are a few spots on the Sound where I commonly dredge 250-280 feet for Blackies.

Save the old wire for running lines between the ball and flashers... if you prefer to run the flasher off the ball! Or you can make some gang trolls to run off the ball too!

Or use the old wire for halibut leaders.