[T3] Two questions about throttle cables

[Dave Hall]

The heater cables are the same as the 1303 Beetles (SuperBeetles), so I
wouldn't think it worthwhile to make them yourself, but I guess eventually
even those will be hard to find.  If I still have my Variant in another 40
years, I think a new heater cable will be the least of my worries!  Are
people still allowed to drive at 105 yrs old?

The flexible conduit should not be that hard to find used - there's one on
each Type 3 scrapped.  Not everybody throws away spares!  I expect I've a
couple out in the shed.

Dave.
UK VW Type 3&4 Club
===================

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
[mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of Jim Adney
Sent: 15 January 2012 06:16
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: Re: [T3] Two questions about throttle cables

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.

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

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