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Sat Feb 12, 2022 11:14 pm

Hello everyone I have a 63 beetle with a 1600 dual port, stock pedal. I ordered the stock throttle cable and it was too short. I have searched and found where people say the stock cable works. I tried the empi universal cable and was not impressed with the hook up front not being too secure. Is it possible I received the wrong cable? I threw the packaging away already so I cannot check.

Sun Feb 13, 2022 3:21 am

What is the part number on the cable you received? Can you hold the two cables side by side and make sure they’re (at least close to) the same size?
I have been in and out of my accelerator cable and pedal probably 5 times in the last week after having the cluster rebuilt. The stock linkage upfront uses an eyelet style hook that simply hooks over the end of the Z bar. It’s a simple solution and it’s pretty secure (mines never jumped off at least) so long as there is tension on the cable created by the throttle return spring on the carb.
Now, the correct cable for the car is 2650mm, P/N ending in …555C. But, in going with the 1600 the carb may stand further back and thus require a longer cable - of this I am not sure.
For $7 it won’t hurt to order a later/longer cable but the connection up front will likely be the zig-zag style.

Sun Feb 13, 2022 6:00 am

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately I do not have the original packaging for the cable. I thought about the later cable style but the connection up front will get me. The issue I had with the empi cable was the open eyelet was a lot shorter/smaller than the original cable. Each time the accelerator would return the cable would pop off. I did compare both cables however. I clamped them in my vice and pulled tightly. The universal empi cable I cut to fit was about 2.5-3” longer.

Sun Feb 13, 2022 10:55 am

Sometimes you gotta rig your own solution. Fix'd mine on the shoulder of a freeway thanks to a coat hanger size aluminum rod found right there roadside, bent it into a J shape and used a barrel clamp from a previous broken cable fix. It's been working well for many years on a nearly daily driver.

Rig'd other end of cable decades earlier, using one of these:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/svw-35077

Sun Feb 13, 2022 10:58 am

Measure your existing cable and compare it to the available stocks lengths listed below, then order the one that best fits. All cables below have an eyelet at the pedal end.

111721555 -- 2667mm/105inch
111721555A -- 2630mm/103.5 inches
111721555C -- 2650mm/104.3 inches

Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:13 pm

Another option possibly

I've used a throttle cable extender on mine since back in 1976, when I went to single Weber 40DCNF carburetor (1835cc engine).

Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:16 pm

I thought about one of those cable extenders. How long roughly are they? Thanks again for everyone chiming in with all the info. It’s been a little bit of a bumpy road getting this old lady back on road, but will be worth it.

Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:44 pm

Do you have the bowden tube for the accelerator cable? If that tube is not seated in both ends properly it would shorten the cable. Also using too long of the bowden tube will do the same, have shortened those to fit earlier VWs.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=400171&highlight=accelerator+bowden+tube

Sun Feb 13, 2022 11:21 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Do you have the bowden tube for the accelerator cable? If that tube is not seated in both ends properly it would shorten the cable. Also using too long of the bowden tube will do the same, have shortened those to fit earlier VWs.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=400171&highlight=accelerator+bowden+tube

My understanding is that the tube was 66 and up. Are you certain it would work right on an earlier car? My cable on my 64 rubs. I’d be interested in the tube.

Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:05 am

rickcsvdubs wrote: I thought about one of those cable extenders. How long roughly are they?

I'm guessing about 2 inches long. I'm also guessing that I'm too lazy right now to go to the garage to measure mine.

Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:15 pm

obnoxiousblue wrote:
My understanding is that the tube was 66 and up. Are you certain it would work right on an earlier car? My cable on my 64 rubs. I’d be interested in the tube.

Did you read our "Protective Tube" quote from the part manual post thru that link? Not certain if it was a bowden tube, but VW was using something earlier than 64.

Using later beetle bowden tube on our 1960 walk thru panel camper conversion. Found could carefully work off one of the ends of the bowden tube, then shorten the tube to work with the earlier bus dimension, and work back on the end.

Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:30 pm

obnoxiousblue wrote:
My understanding is that the tube was 66 and up. Are you certain it would work right on an earlier car?
I use one in my '63 w/a1600DP...no issues.

Mon Feb 14, 2022 7:32 pm

Cusser wrote: rickcsvdubs wrote: I thought about one of those cable extenders. How long roughly are they?

I'm guessing about 2 inches long. I'm also guessing that I'm too lazy right now to go to the garage to measure mine.

Lol, I completely understand and fully support your lack of motivation. I have to go grab my laptop from my car and can’t bring myself to do it.

Mon Feb 14, 2022 7:33 pm

Eric&Barb wrote:
Did you read our "Protective Tube" quote from the part manual post thru that link? Not certain if it was a bowden tube, but VW was using something earlier than 64.

Yup. Much to my surprise in fact. The service manual doesn’t show the tube being used on Beetle accelerator cables until 1966. In my head, it’s the “right thing” to have, so I’m actually surprised it wasn’t used on earlier models.
I’m going to order one up and give it a go on my 64.

Mon Feb 14, 2022 7:35 pm

Always use "protection".

Mon Feb 14, 2022 7:37 pm

I tried with the bowden and without. I ordered one from a later model. I like the idea of shortening it though when I find my solution. Lots of good suggestions and ideas here. Something is gonna work. Also in addition to myself not wanting to grab my laptop I have yet to go out in the cold to the garage to measure the cable yet. I’ll get there, just have to take that first step. :lol:

Mon Feb 14, 2022 8:07 pm

MrGoodtunes wrote: Sometimes you gotta rig your own solution. Fix'd mine on the shoulder of a freeway thanks to a coat hanger size aluminum rod found right there roadside, bent it into a J shape and used a barrel clamp from a previous broken cable fix. It's been working well for many years on a nearly daily driver.

Rig'd other end of cable decades earlier, using one of these:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/svw-35077

I like this quick fix here. Gonna keep an extra barrell nut or two in my ash tray now. I always have some bailing wire in the bug too.as well. Thank you Mr. Goodtunes. I appreciate it. Semper Fi......... Kevin

Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:57 pm

obnoxiousblue wrote:
Yup. Much to my surprise in fact. The service manual doesn’t show the tube being used on Beetle accelerator cables until 1966. In my head, it’s the “right thing” to have, so I’m actually surprised it wasn’t used on earlier models.
I’m going to order one up and give it a go on my 64.

Problem with that listing is it only shows the tube being used for that chassi to chassi time period, and does not list it as the very first used.

There are a few parts that are not listed in the parts manuals. EG we have a DEC62 and MAR63 single cabs. Both have a metal fuel line clamped to the body up front of the engine front tin and the line continues just short of the fuel tank. Have yet to find in any listing in the type 2 parts and workshop manuals of those.....

Mon Feb 14, 2022 10:23 pm

Just for the heck of it looked into our AUG64 type 2 parts manual and it lists a:

Quote: 70(of the parts diagram) 111 721 551 Protective tube - Accelerator cable 1(quantity)
(shorten to 670 mm)

Pretty sure it is original to the parts manual, there is no date on the bottom of the page. Next page back has a "27/67" which should mean 27th week of 1967, meaning it was an updated page.

Tue Feb 15, 2022 11:47 am

FWIW

Steven