Original accelerator cable stuck in tunnel - any ideas? Options

[Craigers17]

Just for shits and grins, have you tried to run something through the tube that has a little less girth? I'd be interested to see if you could push something smaller through there and actually physically see it or grab it at the accelerator end of the tunnel. This would at least give you a good idea if the thing was still all together and mostly "open". If so, you'd have a good idea that, as previously mentioned, maybe the end is just a little corroded, out of round, etc.

[Tdskip]

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

Will give that a try, thanks

[Tdskip]

Just for shits and grins, have you tried to run something through the tube that has a little less girth? I'd be interested to see if you could push something smaller through there and actually physically see it or grab it at the accelerator end of the tunnel. This would at least give you a good idea if the thing was still all together and mostly "open". If so, you'd have a good idea that, as previously mentioned, maybe the end is just a little corroded, out of round, etc.

I did get a coat hanger into the opening and it seemed ok. Will try something a big larger.

I think the tube is slightly collapsed near the opening.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[PlaysWithCars]

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

A reassuring technical description from an ace engine builder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) fully appreciate the practical approach.

[Tdskip]

Philips head wobble technique didn’t work (or at least not yet).

Tried a drill bit (with nice grips so gently) and it’s catching on something. Should I get power to the drill bit to see if I can remove the edge it is catching on?

Seem a bit desperate, which wouldn’t be a wrong conclusion at this point. Ha.

[Superhawk996]

Should I get power to the drill bit to see if I can remove the edge it is catching on?

Seem a bit desperate, which wouldn’t be a wrong conclusion at this point. Ha.

Bad plan

The tube doesn’t go straight for any significant distance and you’ll drill into the side of it (or through it) if not careful.

Review the picture of what you’re dealing with
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=373723

[Tdskip]

Should I get power to the drill bit to see if I can remove the edge it is catching on?

Seem a bit desperate, which wouldn’t be a wrong conclusion at this point. Ha.

Bad plan

The tube doesn’t go straight for any significant distance and you’ll drill into the side of it (or through it) if not careful.

Review the picture of what you’re dealing with
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=373723

That’s why I asked first!

Those pictures are very helpful, thanks for the link.

[Superhawk996]

Be aware there is a lot of variance in how and when the cable tube begins to bend

Here is my car when I rebuilt the tubes from scratch - the accel cable tube goes in straight for a while

You might get by with a variable speed drill and turning it very slowly but I’d only do that as an absolute last resort

I might try a rat tail file first before the drill

A file is a lot better at dealing with hardened material if there is some sort of weld / braze slag inside the tube

[Tdskip]

Any chance the replacement cables have larger fittings?

[Ron914]

Good morning Tom , @Tdskip
I found these photos on the internet somewhere of the tunnel exposed to help me see what goes on in there . I don't know what year of 914 they came from but the helped and I saved them for future use if ever needed.

[Ron914]

and two more

[Superhawk996]

Any chance the replacement cables have larger fittings?

You already posted a picture of it in the tube hitting some obstruction so you know it fits. The rest is a question of what is in the tube or why it’s not straight enough to allow the cable fitting to pass.

Focus on why your tube is not allowing the cable to pass:

1) tube kinked at firewall and doesn’t go straight long enough
2) residual plastic sleeve stuck in the tube
3) rust bump or brazing debris as deformed the interior of the tube
4) tube can be inspected from inside the tunnel via access panel at rear of tunnel

You’ve been vague about what you’ve tried and what’s going on.

Drill should be the last resort once you are sure the tube is straight. If you break a drill off in the tube there is a whole new level of being screwed.

[Tdskip]

Thanks for all of the replies and attempts to help.

1) old cable came out fine
2) old cable can be reinserted without issue
3) new cable is blocked from going in once it gets partially into the firewall

4) I have inserted an Allen key and wobbled it around
5) I have not tried tapping for further forcing of the new cable past where it gets stuck for fear of it getting really stuck
6) I have not drilled anything and won’t


This leads me to a strong suspicion that the new cable is the wrong size diameter

[Tdskip]

Should I try very minimally shaving/grinding a bit of material off these areas?

[Ron914]

You probably don't remember me Tom but I purchased a smog pump from you and a couple of other things last year at your shop cleanup you had . Your problem is definitely a strange one with that tube blockage.

[Tdskip]

OK - got it!

In the end it was the tube being much more bent out of alignment than I realized. The plastic sheath would go in because it was flexible but the threaded metal pallet can’t bent so it got stuck.

After looking at all the pictures again I figured out how it should be aligned and that did the trick.

Thank You all very much.

[Tdskip]

You probably don't remember me Tom but I purchased a smog pump from you and a couple of other things last year at your shop cleanup you had . Your problem is definitely a strange one with that tube blockage.

Of course I remember Ron, it was a pleasure to meet you!

[Ron914]

You probably don't remember me Tom but I purchased a smog pump from you and a couple of other things last year at your shop cleanup you had . Your problem is definitely a strange one with that tube blockage.

Of course I remember Ron, it was a pleasure to meet you.

likewise

[914werke]

Should I try very minimally shaving/grinding a bit of material off these areas?

YES! Carefully ... Ive had to do this MANY times due to tubes bent outta shape.

[Dlee6205]

Should I try very minimally shaving/grinding a bit of material off these areas?

YES! Carefully ... Ive had to do this MANY times due to tubes bent outta shape.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Same. Between the aftermarket cables and the tubes sometimes being bent, I trim down the back edge so it clears. It doesn't take much.


Glad you got it resolved.