Ideas for sunroof cable tube - do such tools exist?
Discussion
Here's the issue. I have a 79 SLC equipped with a sunroof, which itself is moved back and forth by what I believe is a 'grub screw' arrangement at the end of the cable running through the roof, with the motor moving it in the boot. When purchased the screw attached to the sunroof cable was partially stripped so it would not close fully, instead clicking and slipping when it needed to fully close the sunroof.
I bought a replacement sunroof cable - brilliant. however, upon trying to remove the old cable by undoing it from the sunroof and pulling it back through the tube along the inside of the roof I ran into an issue. At some point in history that aluminium tube in which the sunroof cable runs had been dented or kinked. This mean I had to use enormous pressure to pull it back out - it actually took days, but I succeeded.
Getting the new cable in and fed through the sunroof tube however, well that's going to be a different story.
The fully skilled mechanic would remove the full headlining, get access to the aluminium tube running from the boot along the underside of the roof, remove it and put in a new one. Finally replacing the headlining. I am not that guy. The headlining is a real pain to remove, let alone put back in any kind of neat way.
In an ideal world I'd get a borescope, feed it along the tube and see where the issue is. That I can do. Thereafter, what are my options? I'd love some sort of tool that I could run in there and expand whatever kink in the tube I can find, but that sounds fanciful.
Any ideas that don't involve me showing the world how poor I am at installing headlining in a classic car? How can I get that kink sorted from the inside of the tube?
Thanks in advance.
I bought a replacement sunroof cable - brilliant. however, upon trying to remove the old cable by undoing it from the sunroof and pulling it back through the tube along the inside of the roof I ran into an issue. At some point in history that aluminium tube in which the sunroof cable runs had been dented or kinked. This mean I had to use enormous pressure to pull it back out - it actually took days, but I succeeded.
Getting the new cable in and fed through the sunroof tube however, well that's going to be a different story.
The fully skilled mechanic would remove the full headlining, get access to the aluminium tube running from the boot along the underside of the roof, remove it and put in a new one. Finally replacing the headlining. I am not that guy. The headlining is a real pain to remove, let alone put back in any kind of neat way.
In an ideal world I'd get a borescope, feed it along the tube and see where the issue is. That I can do. Thereafter, what are my options? I'd love some sort of tool that I could run in there and expand whatever kink in the tube I can find, but that sounds fanciful.
Any ideas that don't involve me showing the world how poor I am at installing headlining in a classic car? How can I get that kink sorted from the inside of the tube?
Thanks in advance.
Are you sure it is kinked and not gunked up with 40 years work of 'cack'?
First thing I'd do is try and work a narrow electricians drawtape through it. If successful pull a larger diameter one through fixed to the narrow one. Some violent tooing ang froing might be required.
Maybe running a camera down there first is a good call to establish what you are dealing with.
I hope you can avoid the headlining coming out!
First thing I'd do is try and work a narrow electricians drawtape through it. If successful pull a larger diameter one through fixed to the narrow one. Some violent tooing ang froing might be required.
Maybe running a camera down there first is a good call to establish what you are dealing with.
I hope you can avoid the headlining coming out!
Thank you both. You raise a good point. I took the word of a mechanic that it had a kink in it, however, I am not sure how he would know for sure without having either removed the headlining, or having looked down the tube itself. I think I need to start this by finding a borescope which is small enough to fit in the tube and have a look inside Harley Street Proctologist-style. Only then will I know what the course of action should be.
If it is gunked up I think your advice is helpful. If it is some sort of compression a small tool that can travel and then forcefully expand would be what I would be seeking but not sure such a thing exists. I'll start looking for a camera now.
If it is gunked up I think your advice is helpful. If it is some sort of compression a small tool that can travel and then forcefully expand would be what I would be seeking but not sure such a thing exists. I'll start looking for a camera now.
What you want is some button thread with a small lump of foam tied to the end that you can suck through the pipe with a vacuum cleaner. Use the thread to pull something heavier through - either the thing you're trying to install, or something strong enough to pull it. This will also give you a sense of where the resistance is.
paulyv said:
I am also about to order a draw tape, thank you.
The tube itself is not straight - it meanders through the boot, up one side of the C pillar then bends so it becomes central by the time it reaches the front of the sunroof panel.
Also, if it is cack, that cack will likely be a mixture of congealed dried out grease and grit. The tube itself is not straight - it meanders through the boot, up one side of the C pillar then bends so it becomes central by the time it reaches the front of the sunroof panel.
Edited by paulyv on Saturday 5th November 12:55
I would therefore carefully squirt some carb cleaner, which is essentially aggressive thinners, to work its magic in dissolving the cack.
Good luck.
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