Original accelerator cable stuck in tunnel - any ideas? Options

[Tdskip]

OK, once more with feeling….

This is the 74 that had the misrouted accelerator cable. That has been removed so now I have what I believe is the original accelerator cable, the arrow is pointing at it, which is good in stock in the tunnel.

Even with vice grips on it, I can’t pull it out and it doesn’t really wanna move forward either.

I’m going to have to remove this before I install replacement cable so any ideas or suggestions?

[ClayPerrine]

That's not the hole for the accelerator cable. That's the hole for the heater control valve cable. You can tell because it is flared on the end. The accelerator cable tube is not flared and is lower to the left.

The heater cable removes from the inside, as it is a U shaped cable. You have to remove the heater control lever and pull it out to get the cable out.

[Craigers17]

Disregard based on Clay’s answer.

[ClayPerrine]

And I will add that is definitely not the throttle cable. It is a stranded cable. That is a solid wire used for the heater control valves.


The throttle cable is the one above the speedometer cable and to the left of the wire snorkel in the picture.

[Tdskip]

Oh man? This poor car and somewhat clueless current owner (me)

Cable should run through where the blue arrow is pointing?

[Tdskip]

The replacement accelerator cable won’t fit into the opening with the blue arrow.

Can’t see anything stuck I the opening and the old cable came out OK. The old cable did not have the white sheath, but that should make a difference because that isn’t wider than the top of the cable that the ball cup screws on to.

[Tdskip]

Seems like the same of seething is still stuck in the tube, most likely?

[ClayPerrine]

Oh man? This poor car and somewhat clueless current owner (me)

Cable should run through where the blue arrow is pointing?

The blue arrow is the correct location for the throttle cable.

It may have the remains of the cable sheath in it. I would start with a coat hanger wire and try cleaning it out.

[Tdskip]

Thanks Clay, appreciate all the help.

[rjames]

I can't remember how long the tube from the firewall extends into the tunnel, but you may just be running into the other 'obstacles' that are in the tunnel. If you haven't done so already, remove the access panel that's between the seats to get a look at what's going on. You may just need to guide the cable as it goes through to bypass whatever it's running into.

[Tdskip]

Thanks Robert. I’m sure there will be other issues with this but as of right now the tubes in the tunnel look OK.

I can’t even get the new cable started so I’ll try to clear the tube with a coat hanger and see where that gets me.

Thanks!

[Tdskip]

Thanks Robert. I’m sure there will be other issues with this but as of right now the tubes in the tunnel look OK.

I can’t even get the new cable started so I’ll try to clear the tube with a coat hanger and see where that gets me.

Thanks!

[Dave_Darling]

Photos of what is inside the tunnel can be found here:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/9...nter_tunnel.htm

--DD

[Jamie]

Oh man? This poor car and somewhat clueless current owner (me)

Cable should run through where the blue arrow is pointing?

The blue arrow is the correct location for the throttle cable.

It may have the remains of the cable sheath in it. I would start with a coat hanger wire and try cleaning it out.

And please consider replacing those original plastic fuel lines ASAP! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[rjames]

Photos of what is inside the tunnel can be found here:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/9...nter_tunnel.htm

--DD

Thanks for the reminder. My post can pretty much be disregarded then. I forgot that the accelerator cable tube pretty much goes the entire length. Makes sense.

[aturboman]

I ran into the same issue once on a car that sat for a long time. The throttle cable worked fine but when I tried to remove it, it was not happening no matter how hard I pulled.

I eventually cut the cable and pushed a semi flexible metal rod in and was able to free up the threaded cut off cable end. With compressed air I pushed it forward and out of the tube.

The second issue was the new cable could not be inserted more than an inch or so past the firewall before it stopped. I purchased a long drill bit slightly smaller than the ID of the tube and slowly worked it in and out with WD40 until it went in smoothly.
After that the new cable could be installed normally.

My theory is the moisture collected in the tube over a long period of sitting and cause a rust bloom that reduced the ID enough so the threaded shank would not pass through but the much smaller cable operated fine.

I liberally applied grease to the new cable to coat the inner tube and hopefully stop a future issue. I also added a small rubber seal under the new cable sheath to stop any water ingress. Long story but it sounds exactly like what I experienced, good luck.

[BillC]

The replacement accelerator cable won’t fit into the opening with the blue arrow.

Can’t see anything stuck I the opening and the old cable came out OK. The old cable did not have the white sheath, but that should make a difference because that isn’t wider than the top of the cable that the ball cup screws on to.

Your new cable won't fit because the crimped-on end of the old cable sheathing is still on the end of the cable guide tube.

In the picture with the blue arrow, you can see the end of the tube where it points has a hexagonal shape. This is because the piece you can see is actually the end of the sheath -- it gets hex-crimped onto the plastic sheath and fits over the stub that sticks out of the lower firewall.

Take a pair of pliers and carefully twist the sheath end off the cable guide tube. If it won't come fairly easily, use a torch to heat the end and then try again.

[Tdskip]

Oh wow, good catch. I really appreciate the time you took to respond with this suggestion.

I will try that tomorrow.

[Tdskip]

OK - One step forward,one step on hold.

Removed the sheets from the cable that was in there before, it actually came out pretty easily once I knew what I was doing. Thanks for your help..

Unfortunately, the replacement cable doesn’t want to slide into the opening, seems like it’s just slightly oversized. Looks like maybe there’s a kink or bend in the tube? Maybe?

[sixnotfour]

Slide a Phillips screw driver and wooble it around..the the tube is out of round ...