Source for wire to make heater cable inner??

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Mon Sep 19, 05 9:15 pm

Any idea where I can get some wire to make up a new heater control cable? This is just the inner wire - I have the outer sleeve with moulded-in brackets etc, but one of the 'spiral' ends was broken off on my original.

With the right wire it should be a simple job, just need to put it in the outer sleeve and wrap both ends round a pen a few times. It's a solid (not stranded) wire, and is 46 thou diameter (that's 1.17mm!)

Thanks

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Sep 19, 05 9:32 pm

Ive tried and failed a couple of times, one time using inner wire from another heater cable, that snapped in the process!
You do occasionally get these cables on ebay and Im after a temp control cable myself at the mo!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Sep 19, 05 9:40 pm

mine also broke near the spira, i found a piece of wire the same diameter and about 10mm long and spot welded it parralel with the break with a mig very quickly and it works a treatl

latil · Post by **latil** » Mon Sep 19, 05 10:52 pm

Briggs& Stratton throttle cables,coil of spring wire from model engineering supplier, piano wire. If you have enough length can you trim back the outer cable to gain a bit more inner wire and re-form a new end? Bend it right first time, it won't bend twice it usually snaps

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Sep 20, 05 1:06 pm

I had to mend the end that fixes to the cock (78 fury) my tip for coiling the end is to heat it with a blowtorch for a few seconds (just dull red should be ok) then twirl it up with some long nose pliers quickly.

Worked a treat until the knob end

snapped off 2 weeks later (78 fury) Doh!

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Sep 20, 05 5:26 pm

thanks guys, some good suggestions.

I checked out the piano wire, but all model supplies seem to sell it in 36" lengths - I need about 39-40 I reckon including spirals.

can't shorten the outer sleeve since it has no slack and also has moulded ends. I might try the welding bit but only if I can't get any suitable wire.
Should have known there may not be an easy answer!! I can get a new cable from the US but really this should be a cheap and easy fix!

Latil - tell me more about the B&S throttle cable - what's the application and how long is it (or where can I find out).
Any other suggestions for just the wire??

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Sep 20, 05 5:33 pm

Horticultural engineers (mowers) and the like, Heavy plant, like Finnings the CAT dealer or Volvo, some of the older loading shovels have really long solid steel piano wire cables for heater controls

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Sep 20, 05 5:41 pm

Hey Gavin, where can you order the cables new from? Im fed up with repairing mine!

latil · Post by **latil** » Tue Sep 20, 05 5:48 pm

B&S cables from a proper mower place the inner and outer are the correct type. They come with a sort of cranked end to hook into the carb etc,often around 4' long . Just noticed my Honda mower uses it too near on 5' long but wrong outer.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Sep 21, 05 11:39 am

I am a fitter in a John Deere groundscare dealership and I can sort you out some new B&Stratton throttle cables if you want. But the choke cables are cheaper!

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Wed Sep 21, 05 11:51 am

Thanks, I'll check out the choke cables.

CP, now I am going to have to find where I saw the cables!! I've discovered I did not bookmark it.
They are not cheap - by the time you get it over here you'd be looking at over ?40 I recall....hence my look for a bit of wire, especially as it should be easy, just not very available it seems

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Sep 21, 05 12:40 pm

Hey Gavin, try Speedy Cables in Banbury. Quite a lot of older cars used the same wire for choke cables and I'm pretty sure Speedy will do them...fingers crossed!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Sep 21, 05 4:40 pm

Good idea, used them to make up new Chally park brake cable, doh why didnt I think of that!

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Wed Sep 21, 05 6:07 pm

Ivor, only Speedy Cables I could find are in Wales (they used to be in London). Do you have any contact details for the Banbury one - my parents-in-law live there so we get over that way every now and then.

cheers

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Sep 22, 05 4:28 pm

try your local autoparts store. universal choke cables or pull to stop cables will do