Throttle cable repair? Options

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

One of the minor casualties during engine removal and replacement last week was the threaded sleeve at the engine end of the cable. We undid the nut and tucked the cable on top of the engine during removal so it should have been fine, but when we went to reinstall the cable to the TB, we discovered the threaded sleeve was broken. Luckily, Rob had a VW brake part (U shaped washer) that we turned upside down and then zip tied it secure to get me home. Just a temporary fix, obviously.

The cable was new-ish so if I don't have to replace it, I would prefer not to. I'm wondering if I can't replace that sleeve with one recycled from an old broken throttle cable (or something equivalent available online - a threaded sleeve with a lip). I assume that metal threaded sleeve is crimped onto the black plastic outer sleeve?

Has anybody tried such a repair?

Does anybody have an old broken throttle cable laying around that they would be willing to snip this piece off of for me?

Open to suggestions.

[Olympic 914]

I have had that happen also and it recently broke on a friends 914.

Seems to be a weak point, for some reason.

[IronHillRestorations]

I have several of these. The problem is that I don’t think the swaged end of the cable won’t go through the hole, which is .120. I don’t mind sending you one.

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

@IronHillRestorations

Thanks for the offer, Perry. Here are the thicknesses:

[IronHillRestorations]

@IronHillRestorations

Thanks for the offer, Perry. Here are the thicknesses:

As I suspected the end of the cable won’t go through (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[IronHillRestorations]

Having broken a cable that exact way early on in my 914 journey, I now tighten them with a small 10mm ignition wrench and two fingers. Those ends are more fragile than they seem.

[brant]

Replace the cable and be more careful

Have done this myself also

[TRP]

As much as it stinks to spend the money. You don't have to replace the whole cable from front to back. You could buy a new cable and see if you can swap that barrel end over. On my car I found that the end isnt crimped on. What looks like a crimp is really a nut so you can tighten the jam nut on the threaded side. That end isnt on there as tightly as you would think, it's just pressed on and it comes off pretty easily.

I have found that Pelican has the quickest and most reliable shipping. Sierra Madre is circling the drain, which is a huge bummer for me.

Nothing to lose by trying to see if you can just swap the end over.

Ted

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

As much as it stinks to spend the money. You don't have to replace the whole cable from front to back. You could buy a new cable and see if you can swap that barrel end over. On my car I found that the end isnt crimped on. What looks like a crimp is really a nut so you can tighten the jam nut on the threaded side. That end isnt on there as tightly as you would think, it's just pressed on and it comes off pretty easily.

I have found that Pelican has the quickest and most reliable shipping. Sierra Madre is circling the drain, which is a huge bummer for me.

Nothing to lose by trying to see if you can just swap the end over.

Ted

That's my preferences (recycling that piece from another cable). I mentioned that in my original post, but I'll go ahead and post a WTB ad in the classifieds to see if someone has an old snapped cable lying around that they would be willing to part with.

[brant]

That barrel nut being not crimped adequately is a quality control issue
And part of the reason they break at the barrel
Because the barrel flexes sideways when you tighten it and doesn’t have the support of being crimped correctly

I’d buy a new cable and if the end is loose, crimp it better before installing

[TRP]

That barrel nut being not crimped adequately is a quality control issue
And part of the reason they break at the barrel
Because the barrel flexes sideways when you tighten it and doesn’t have the support of being crimped correctly

I’d buy a new cable and if the end is loose, crimp it better before installing

Oof... good to know. Man, thats the only cable I haven't replaced at this point! I dream of the day when I can stop replacing stuff, lower this car off the jack stands, and drive it again. It has been 2' off the ground since November.