Baffling Bonnet release cable

[MissMoppet]

Oh dear, one of those five minute jobs that takes days . . .
Having read all the horror stories about broken bonnet cables and poking broomsticks through the headlamps and contorting wire coat hangers, in my innocence I thought "fit a brand new cable and that will see me out." If Life were that simple. Lesson 1: leave the old outer cable in place (I didn't). Problem: how to find the wee grommet artfully buried behind the wiring loom behind the back of the parcel shelf: Solution: place a bright light in the engine bay and aim . . . only took an hour. I tightened everything up but found that I had to pull out the handle several inches before it released. Take it out again and measure exactly the same length of outer cable, snip off and re-insert - another hour on my belly.
But - same thing again. I have to pull the wee handle out of its socket before the release catch works. I give up. It's only a Bowden cable that's been around since Raleigh invented the bike so why won't it work? Please put me out of my misery before another Stag goes on the For Sale board.

(Irrelevant PS: when in Ireland a few years ago and driving a friend's car I inadvertently shut the keys in the car, but did leave a one inch gap in the window. Fortunately we'd stopped outside a dry cleaners so we did the obvious and borrowed a wire coat hanger. After 15 minutes of fruitless fenagling a 10 year old urchin said "want any help Mister?" Well of course he had it open in 20 seconds flat: must have been the local car thief.)

[milothedog]

Oh dear, one of those five minute jobs that takes days . . .
Having read all the horror stories about broken bonnet cables and poking broomsticks through the headlamps and contorting wire coat hangers, in my innocence I thought "fit a brand new cable and that will see me out." If Life were that simple. Lesson 1: leave the old outer cable in place (I didn't). Problem: how to find the wee grommet artfully buried behind the wiring loom behind the back of the parcel shelf: Solution: place a bright light in the engine bay and aim . . . only took an hour. I tightened everything up but found that I had to pull out the handle several inches before it released. Take it out again and measure exactly the same length of outer cable, snip off and re-insert - another hour on my belly.
But - same thing again. I have to pull the wee handle out of its socket before the release catch works. I give up. It's only a Bowden cable that's been around since Raleigh invented the bike so why won't it work? Please put me out of my misery before another Stag goes on the For Sale board.

(Irrelevant PS: when in Ireland a few years ago and driving a friend's car I inadvertently shut the keys in the car, but did leave a one inch gap in the window. Fortunately we'd stopped outside a dry cleaners so we did the obvious and borrowed a wire coat hanger. After 15 minutes of fruitless fenagling a 10 year old urchin said "want any help Mister?" Well of course he had it open in 20 seconds flat: must have been the local car thief.)

Can you post a picture of how you have fixed it at the catch end

[MissMoppet]

The usual way : I can't see any other way of fixing it. Or if you like p 196 of Haynes.

[milothedog]

The usual way : I can't see any other way of fixing it. Or if you like p 196 of Haynes.

Like this'

Untitled.jpg

[milothedog]

The usual way : I can't see any other way of fixing it. Or if you like p 196 of Haynes.

Like this'

Untitled.jpg
If you pm an email address I email you A PDF of the ROM

[Bob Heritage]

You don;t need to shorten the outer cable, pull the inner further through, about 3" in your case.

[MissMoppet]

Like this'

[ATTACH=CONFIG]18777[/ATTACH]

Yep.

[MissMoppet]

You don;t need to shorten the outer cable, pull the inner further through, about 3" in your case.

I've tugged on the free (inner) cable end with a mole wrench as tight as it well go but I still have to pull the handle out of its bracket for it to release (needless to say I'm doing all this with bonnet open). Defies common-sense.

[milothedog]

If you look at the picture the lever is forward a bit, what if you pull the inner cable so it start to pull the lever across then lock it off with the collet. that way you reduce the travel.


For gods sake though, don't shut the bonnet until your sure it will re open, maybe put a piece of string on it coming from under the bonnet on the O/S just in case.

Ian

[MissMoppet]

If you look at the picture the lever is forward a bit, what if you pull the inner cable so it start to pull the lever across then lock it off with the collet. that way you reduce the travel.


For gods sake though, don't shut the bonnet until your sure it will re open, maybe put a piece of string on it coming from under the bonnet on the O/S just in case.

Ian

Now I like the idea of that. I'll use a woodworking clamp to tighten the release bracket then tighten up the clamp nut and see what that does. That'll be tomorrow, but still don't see why it doesn't work now. One of life's mysteries I suppose. Thanks.

[milothedog]

If you look at the picture the lever is forward a bit, what if you pull the inner cable so it start to pull the lever across then lock it off with the collet. that way you reduce the travel.


For gods sake though, don't shut the bonnet until your sure it will re open, maybe put a piece of string on it coming from under the bonnet on the O/S just in case.

Ian

Have a look in my profile, there is an album called header tank, you can zoom in on the bonnet catch, (I have 2 cables fitted and an additional release above the parcel shelf) you can see the angle the lever is set at.

[MissMoppet]

Solved, at last. Peering under the dash shows me that when I pull the handle the OUTER cable moves in. The crimping has failed at the end of the sleeve bit behind the bracket. Thanks for your ideas chaps. Tomorrow replace with new outer cable if I can find that grommet again.

[Guest]

I moved my release to the drivers side and fitted the cable through another grommet.I would also recommend another secure clamp on the inner cable.
Also I have attached a thin nylon rope also to the catch and have threaded it through by the acclerator pedal so if the cable should break or come away i can pull the nylon rope from inside the car.I must say how much better it is having the bonnet release handle on the drivers side.Good luck
Anthony

[martin]

You know it's the outer cable that does the work ? It's possible you've got a bend/twist in it, which straightens as you pull on it instead of acting on the release. I presume you're snapping the catch fully home with a screwdriver or similar to test it.