[T3] Two questions about throttle cables

[Jim Adney]

On 14 Jan 2012 at 16:50, David Sanderson wrote:

> I have a couple of questions about throttle cables. First, the  
> throttle cable in Matt's notch broke. Actually, it had worn through in  
> two places - just where the cable exits the tube by the pedal and  
> again at the rear where it come through the fire wall. Did these  
> cables come with some sort of nylon sleeve to prevent this kind of  
> abrasion and subsequent breakage? I've looked at the parts book but do  
> not see any such protective sleeve. I see at CB Performance that they  
> sell a cable that is in a  sleeve - that should do the trick I think.

It's unusual for wear to occur at the front end. Any chance that it 
wasn't hooked up correctly? If routed and terminated properly, it 
should not really contact the edge where it exits the steel tube.

There was no OG nylon sleeve. I don't know what CB Performance is 
selling.

> Second, I imagine that it is very difficult to get 311 721 551 A, the  
> protective tube and grommet (311 721 573) for the throttle cable from  
> the pan to the firewall. Have people tried other kinds of tubes, like  
> bicycle parts as a substitute?

I have good used OG housings available. They are important for 
preventing this kind of abrasion damage. They are much larger than 
any bicycle or motorcycle cable housings. I don't have the rubber 
boots; they are always disintegrated, but the system works fine 
without them.

I like Bob's suggestion to use stainless wire rope. I can buy it at 
our local hardware store. I've been tempted to make replacement 
heater cables from solid SST wire, but I just haven't needed any yet 
and getting the length and ends just right could be difficult.

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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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