Ughhhhh...Heater Cable Stuck

[kenshapiro2002]

Changing out my heater cables ('67). The left one came one nicely, but the right side one jammed about 18" from the end...right where it goes over the torsion bar (upward curve). Now it won't go forward or backward other than about for an inch. Gonna try pumping PB Blaster in there, but not real hopeful. Read a couple of threads. on bay window buses, and it seem that the right side is the one that sometimes hangs up.

[EverettB]

Did you cut off the larger end of the cable first, if it was still attached?

The tubes are often plugged with grease and dirt build-up so if the end is still there, you need to cut them off first or they could get stuck.

Unfortunately this doesn't help you now.

The PB Blaster might break it down though.
Maybe blast some air from a compressor from the front too.
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[kenshapiro2002]

Yeah...too late now. Thought if that too late.

[Major Woody]

If it is being held in place by petrified grease, the judicious application of heat may help soften it and cause the cable to let go. I would recommend a heat gun over open flame as you don't need THAT much heat and you don't want to get undercoating or paint burning.

[kenshapiro2002]

Thanks. Ill give it a shot. I figure...worst case scenario...I slice out a section and fit a cylinder or hose over that section.

[Riff Raff]

[kenshapiro2002]

Appreciate the encouragement.

[kenshapiro2002]

My best guess, since there were no seals on the ends of the cables, is that a chuck of old seal was in there and got dragged up the "hill" over the torsion tube. Been suing PB and heat for a few hours to no avail. I'll give it time.

[Brokenbus]

You won't need heat for several months so try attacking it from the back end with something not quite as thick as a coat hanger. Leaving the end piece on was a good idea because it will help clear the blockage. If you can manage to run a piece of .032 safety wire the entire length of the tube you can pull the new one thru that way. maybe.

[2Pack]

Two thoughts:

- If you had a flexible tube that is just larger than the cable end, you might be able to feed it in over the cable. Once you got it over the cable end you would just have to pull out the flexible tube, which has less chance of snagging.

- You might try rotating the cable slowly with a drill as you tug to see if that helps. Risky though because you might break the cable.
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[Eric&Barb]

How about just jacking up the front end and dripping penetrating oil down thru the front of the tubes?
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[kenshapiro2002]

[dawerks]

It happens to lots of those random tubes. I usually go at it with a small drill bit, and drill some small holes in a row. Then you can see what's the hold up and get RIGHT in there.

Cutting the tubes works, but then it's hard to weld the top part of the tube back up. I can live with tiny holes 'just in case', and it's another spot to add a bit of grease
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[kenshapiro2002]

[kenshapiro2002]

Used the tubing cutter about 4" forward of the torsion tube. Pulled the cable out from the front. So now I have the end piece and about 3" of cable still in there contemplating my next cut/move. Making another cut and removing that section is easy...gonna see if I can do something else.