Accelerator cable - a cheap alternative

[Rubce]

Hi All

Last Thursday I needed a replacement wire cable for the throttle. I then remembered reading somewhere on another forum about using a cycle cable. So off I trotted to our local cycle repair shop. £2.50 later I came home with a 2 metre long cable which I cut to length and inserted into the original perfectly usable outer sheath. Hey presto a nice cheap alternative to a pukka part. Thought I would pass the tip on.

Regards

Bruce

[DJT]

Hi Bruce,

You could have read it here, as I have posted this a few times................

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_186711_langId_-1_categoryId_165608

or for the full cable:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_186747_langId_-1_categoryId_165608

As you have found, other suppliers are out there..........

Dave

[martin]

Why on earth do you need to bugger about with bicycle bits, when you can buy a new cable, with a new nylon sheathed outer for £6.50 ? ? ? ? Martin.

[nib]

Why on earth do you need to bugger about with bicycle bits, when you can buy a new cable, with a new nylon sheathed outer for £6.50 ? ? ? ? Martin.

You have to wait for it to come through the post Martin and Bruce was lapping the indian summer up, so no time for waiting I should imagine,I did the same one sunday in summer,I was in Hunstanton by midday rather than vehicle off road.

[Rubce]

Hi Nib. Well said!!!!!! Problem identified with existing cable at 3pm and replacement sourced and fitted by 3.30pm. Could not afford to wait for replacement to arrive in post from usual sources as car was booked in for MOT the following day. The chap in the shop told me he sells lots of them for kit cars. Cheers Bruce

[DJT]

Why on earth do you need to bugger about with bicycle bits, when you can buy a new cable, with a new nylon sheathed outer for £6.50 ? ? ? ? Martin.

Martin,
Exactly as Nib has said, and Bruce has experienced. If you suddenly find a need for a new cable and can't wait for delivery, then an alternative is out there. If not happy with the bike cable as a long-term fix, it at least buys you driving time whilst a more expensive option is sourced. Personally, I have found nothing wrong with the bike cable and have used one for many thousands of miles.

On this subject, whatever cable you use, I suggest ensuring that the carburettor end is not left too long as it has been known for it to snag in the linkage and result in a stuck open throttle. BTDT

I can also suggest that the free end is encapsulated in heat shrink sleeving. This prevents the end from fraying and makes it easier to reconnect if removed in the future. The same applies to the free end of the choke cables.

Dave

[Andrew S]

How do you fixed to the pedal end?

[DJT]

How do you fixed to the pedal end?

Hi Andrew,

The 'Universal' cable has a different nipple at each end. One of these is the same as the one on the 'official' cable. Just cut off the other one and thread through. The Universal cable, and matching outer, are a lot longer than the Stag one, so you can tailor the length to route it as you wish.

Dave

[nib]

Dave - I had that with a frayed cable with the throttle sticking open, fortunately everything went in my favour, slip road and clear in front of me but a big worry nonetheless.
Andrew - The one I bought had a small nipple on the end similar to the standard throttle cable so was able to fit into the pedal end ok and I put the clip back on,I think mine might have been a gear cable but could be wrong.
Mark

[martin]

Martin,
Exactly as Nib has said, and Bruce has experienced. If you suddenly find a need for a new cable and can't wait for delivery, then an alternative is out there. If not happy with the bike cable as a long-term fix, it at least buys you driving time whilst a more expensive option is sourced. Personally, I have found nothing wrong with the bike cable and have used one for many thousands of miles.

On this subject, whatever cable you use, I suggest ensuring that the carburettor end is not left too long as it has been known for it to snag in the linkage and result in a stuck open throttle. BTDT

I can also suggest that the free end is encapsulated in heat shrink sleeving. This prevents the end from fraying and makes it easier to reconnect if removed in the future. The same applies to the free end of the choke cables.

Dave

A very good point Martin.

[V Mad]

Martin,I can also suggest that the free end is encapsulated in heat shrink sleeving. This prevents the end from fraying and makes it easier to reconnect if removed in the future. The same applies to the free end of the choke cables.
Dave

This is a good tip. There are also other ways I have used, such as soldering, welding (just touch it to then torch end), and not tried but could use Aralidite?

[ChasR]

It is the method I used when installing my Holley (that and I wished to keep my existing choke cable and light (sad I know). Heat shrink does have a variety of uses.

[jbuckl]

Someone one said he'd used a rubber band instead of a wheel cylinder seal.
Mind you, I once had a new stag wheel cylinder from a stag speciallist, with an under sized seal fitted.

Substituting 'go' control bits and 'stop' control bits is risky.

A bicycle bowden cable diameter is not really fit for purpose is it?

In a previous life I have tested throtttle cables / throttle pedals & throttle bodies.

The cables were tested to 1000000 cycles max travel and load.

Our throttle cables were 1.6mm dia; other manufacturers were 2.0mm dia; Theirs lasted 2000000.

Breakages were nearly always at the pedal end, due to max articulation without a guide nearly always being at this point.

[Rubce]

Substituting 'go' control bits and 'stop' control bits is risky.

A bicycle bowden cable diameter is not really fit for purpose is it?

In a previous life I have tested throtttle cables / throttle pedals & throttle bodies.

The cables were tested to 1000000 cycles max travel and load.

As I said in my posting, kit car users are avid purchasers of the cables and their cars are likely to take far more hammer than our Stags. Plus, the diameter of the bicycle cable seemed comparable to the JP supplied cable that I removed. Can't see that the cable is under any great stress anyway as all it does is pivot the carb linkage. Its not as if a great weight is being hung off it. Lots of owners of GT6, Spitfires etc use them on the TSSC and Club Triumph Forums.

Bruce