TheSamba.com :: View topic - Accelerator cable keeps coming undone

Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:22 am

Hey guys, recently my accelerator cable has been coming undone a lot (today my cable came undone 3 times on the way to work... And my work is 3 miles from my house) every time I hook my cable back up I make sure the "s" hook is snaked thru the hole on my pedal completely, but it still keeps coming undone. Are there any modifications that I can do to the hook to keep it from coming back out of the pedal? Or would getting a new cable help? Any suggestions?

Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:37 am

Sounds like something is bent or worn. What's the cable end look like? compare it to a picture of a new one. Make sure the accelerator arm is not bent and the hole is not worn.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:30 am

The "s" hook looks like the new one still, I haven't had the chance to further inspect the hole on the pedal, my super still has the original pedal assembly, so the hole may be slightly worn, I'll check it and let you know

Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:30 am

On my 74sb had the same thing , the hole where the cable goes is worn so it wouldnt hold it , my cure , I attached a barrel nut on the end of the cable its been holding for over a year now.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:29 pm

I uses a hose clamp to secure the cable to the pedal arm and it worked fine.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:54 pm

A small piece of rubber hose over the top of the "s" on the inside or safety wire together.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:26 pm

Ok thanks, I'm going to try the barrel nut method and see how it works, and now the bug isn't holding an idle again :evil: just my luck... Lol

Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:12 pm

Check how I do mine:

http://www.maxwelton2k.net/baja/page6.html

Max

Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:08 pm

Not a great photo, but this is the way it should be attached to the pedal bar:

Also make sure that the upright part of the pedal "bar" is straight back to front, and not angled.

Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:44 pm

That's not the correct way. It goes in from the other side first. Look in the Bentley's.

Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:31 pm

bugbyte wrote: That's not the correct way. It goes in from the other side first. Look in the Bentley's.

I install it from the other way as well, but it rubs the accererator tube at the exit because the cable is bent so far to the left, I don't understand with such great engineering on these cars why it rubs, maybe the tube gets kicked and gets pushed back. Does any one have an answer, other than the newer methods of attachments

Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:11 am

I got on this thread today because on my way home the accelerator cable broke. My 2nd time in 18 months. - After reading many, many posts I've decided to buy the Bulletproof cable that aircooled.net sells, along with the installation kit.

I'll let you know how it installs and works out for me.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:19 am

Just replaced mine a couple weeks ago when I had the engine out (installed new VW SP heads :D ). The longer part of the connector at the pedal goes to the right of the lever. Got mine from WW. It came with a nice plastic tube a couple inches long that keeps the cable from rubbing against the guide tube where it enters the tunnel. Nice touch.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:31 am

bugbyte wrote: I got on this thread today because on my way home the accelerator cable broke. My 2nd time in 18 months.

2nd time in 18 months !!! I've had 2 accelerator cable breakages on my 1971 in the 38 years I've owned it (I wasn't driving it either time) and zero in my 1970 (driven daily 1972-1993). You going to believe me (my posted picture) or your lyin' eyes (even if in a Bentley). If you route the cable the other way, it's way to mych side stress on the cable, and as stated earlier, it rubs.

Also, when tightening the clamp, make sure there's play at the carb end, like when the pedal is pushed down all the way, carb throttle arm must have a tiny amount of extra; if not, your stressing the cable to its maximum each time it's floored.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:47 am

As Cusser noted, check the condition (angle) of the arm. After years of mashing the petal it can twist and allow the cable to slip. Every few years I gotta twist it back in shape.

-jeffrey

Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:11 pm

The pedal: I'm not at all happy with the pedal. The metal is too shabby to hold up under the pressure of a foot. I've also ordered a new pedal made out of cast aluminum along with a new roller.

The pedal end of the cable, when new, is more like a stretched out "S", and would always slip out when put in from the tunnel side. That has to be the problem. Something with right angles would have been better.

The Bulletproof cable has a closed end and can be bolted to the attachment hole. That should provide a permanent fix. I'm an eternal optimist.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:32 pm

bugbyte wrote: The pedal end of the cable, when new, is more like a stretched out "S", and would always slip out when put in from the tunnel side. That has to be the problem. Something with right angles would have been better.

The Bulletproof cable has a closed end and can be bolted to the attachment hole. That should provide a permanent fix. I'm an eternal optimist.
Go take a look at the page I linked to. Permanent fix you can make yourself.

Max

Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:19 pm

Outstanding solution AND photos. - Wish I'd seen these before.

It should be a sticky. Thanks!