Joining control/tensioning cable
Discussion
Hi all
I have a tensioning cable broken, I need to join a hook to it so I can locate it into a soft top frame, the hook I can fabricate from a bent piece of solid wire. The whole thing adds tension to the edge of an MB soft top, so needs to be relatively strong. Think brake clutch/brake cable strong rather than throttle cable strong.
A new bit of 300mm bit of cable only comes as a £100+ assembly from MB, so I'd like to repair what I've got.
Any ideas how I can join the two?
I have a tensioning cable broken, I need to join a hook to it so I can locate it into a soft top frame, the hook I can fabricate from a bent piece of solid wire. The whole thing adds tension to the edge of an MB soft top, so needs to be relatively strong. Think brake clutch/brake cable strong rather than throttle cable strong.
A new bit of 300mm bit of cable only comes as a £100+ assembly from MB, so I'd like to repair what I've got.
Any ideas how I can join the two?
I doubt the above will hold on a tensioned wire/rod? i've replced them in the past using a handbrake cable inner and crimped nipple/joiners from an old make your own handbrake cable kit i got from a yard clearance of a closed down beetle restorer, probably a 50's or 60's kit, not sure if you can still get DIY kits but amazon or ebay might be worth a trawle ??
P.S i made the cripmer from some rather short and useless bolt croppers, i ground the shape (half a 50p) into each jaw and it's been fine for the last 20 years or so you can get propper cable crimps with differing sizes crimps in the jaws ?
P.S i made the cripmer from some rather short and useless bolt croppers, i ground the shape (half a 50p) into each jaw and it's been fine for the last 20 years or so you can get propper cable crimps with differing sizes crimps in the jaws ?
Few ideas here, incl bulldog grips, wire clamps & crimped wire splicing ferrules:
http://www.baselinemarine.com/shopdisplayproducts....
Probably get them on ebay as well.
http://www.baselinemarine.com/shopdisplayproducts....
Probably get them on ebay as well.
Just a thought, what are the ends like, and could you do the whole thing rather than just replace a section?
I ask because B & Q sell (around) 3mm galvanised wire which is very strong (they do thinner too, but not sure of the size) by the metre for only a few quid.
I have replaced similar sounding cable before by doubling over cable like mentioned above, and crimping it in a short length of copper brake pipe using an electrical cable crimper.
I ask because B & Q sell (around) 3mm galvanised wire which is very strong (they do thinner too, but not sure of the size) by the metre for only a few quid.
I have replaced similar sounding cable before by doubling over cable like mentioned above, and crimping it in a short length of copper brake pipe using an electrical cable crimper.
Masters of joining two wires are farmers who need fences.
They use Rope connectors or splicers: http://www.fencetop.com/wire-rope-accessories/rope... LIke a bulldog clip but more elegant.
Or electricians: a butt splice http://www.swaonline.co.uk/cable-terminations/copp... Every size from 1.5 to 650mm! Crimped or swaged on.
You could use a length of any small copper tube, and add some solder as well if you are keen.
John
They use Rope connectors or splicers: http://www.fencetop.com/wire-rope-accessories/rope... LIke a bulldog clip but more elegant.
Or electricians: a butt splice http://www.swaonline.co.uk/cable-terminations/copp... Every size from 1.5 to 650mm! Crimped or swaged on.
You could use a length of any small copper tube, and add some solder as well if you are keen.
John
On one of my kit cars I had to shorten the handbrake cable, to put a ferrul back on I drilled a bolt lengthways after cutting the head off, threaded the wire through leaving a ½" proud, crimped the bolt with a blunt chisel in 3 places making sure not to cut the bolt then melted back the protruding wire with a mig
That was 8 years ago even with handbrake turns on handling and slalom days
That was 8 years ago even with handbrake turns on handling and slalom days
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