Sunroof Problem - Interesting Situation

[Sunroof]

Well, one of my cables on my sunroof seemed to have given up on my 1973.5T. In seeking replacement parts I contacted a good number of folks as well as my ususal compliment of helpful mechanics to try to achieve a concensus on the cure.

1) I found out that the cables in the early models have been
superceded with larger units and therefore not compatible
with the early model rails.

2) Several mechanics claim that the new cables can be "modified"
by trimming some metal off the slide portion of the unit to fit in
the older rails. Some other have said that will not work
because the cable itself is larger then the slide in the old rail.

3) Others have mentioned a "metal tube" at the rear of the
system that may not take the size of the new cables.

So, I find myself seeking advice and experience from my fellow
P-heads who collectively have "been there" and bring the theories
and postulation to fruition.

I remain, confused, dedazzled and frustrated with the outside circle on this one.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob

[xlr8]

click here

[thrown_hammer]

Mine came out in pieces. The motor and cables still work but all the bushings were disinegrated. I opted to slide it back in and use black sealant to seal it up forever. At least till I can afford the F/G panel. Sunroofs are crap.
Tell you what if you get me a F/G sunroof panel from TRE I will give you ALL my sunroof components cables, motor, everything! Even up.

[island911]

Originally posted by xlr8
click here

. . .if you want to have a hassle and spend money.

Otherwise, clean and epoxy the cable end back into the (previously crimped) slider.

[Sunroof]

Most excellent.
I think I will try the epoxy cure before spending on the cables (if that indeed is where they seem to come apart). Any suggestions on the type of epoxy by the way for such a small area to be bonded?

................."It all makes sense now".

Bob

[island911]

Think about how little area is/was holding the cabe, coming from the original crimps . .. .the area the epoxy has to grip is much longer.

I had done a very nice post on this economical fix. It seem to have vanished.


In that post, I showed pushing the cable-end (thru and) just beyond the slider body, then with a blade slipped between the cablestrands (at the end) spaying them open, just a bit, and adding a final bit of epoxy. . .. to keep the end strands spayed open (read: will never pull out)

[Chris Lovell]

I did the epoxy method. Worked perfectly. I used JB WELD for aluminum sparingly. Easy job and working fine after two years.
C

[Sunroof]

That makes sense to "flay" the cable abit to keep it from backing out. The epoxy is just to hold the anchor. Come to think of it, how would a metal cable break anyways unless it became weakened from constant bending or loosing its grip from that clamped fitting?

I would gesture that most sunroof repairs are when the cable ends just come loose.

The best P-mechanics in Atlanta did not even come close to suggesting a repair like that to bring it back to life!

Appreciate it.

Bob

[john walker's workshop]

a light recrimp with some dikes will help. it won't go back in with any kind of burr or unravelling, so clean it up nice and insert with a slight twist.

[RickM]

Originally posted by island911
I had done a very nice post on this economical fix. It seem to have vanished.

You mean this one

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=6047&highlight=cable+and+epoxy




Another: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=25472&highlight=cable+and+epoxy

[Sunroof]

You guys are beautiful..............

GROUP HUG!

Thanks
Bob

[911Mac]

If the epoxy doesn't work/last it's not that big of a deal to use the newer cables. You need to do a little filing to make the ends fit in the channels in the old style rails. There is some fiber wrapped around the cables that protrudes slightly past the diameter of the cables that needs to be removed also. Wayne recommends picking it out, I was lazy and just used a propane torch to char it slightly and it came out easily with a wire brush.
It was much easier than it sounds.

[xlr8]

Got Nomex?

[Jason 74 911]

Anyone seen sunroof channels like this on a 911? This picture is of my 74. The date on the S/N tag reads 09/73. These channels look very similar to a VW and not like any other 911 I have seen. Can the newer style cables fit these channels? I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how the newer style cables could fit and it appears they don't.



Thanks, Jason.

[RickM]

Try again...

[Jason 74 911]

Thanks Rick. I couldn't get it to display.

[island911]

Hey Jason; is that a manual s/r ?

[Jason 74 911]

No, It is a power sunroof.

[island911]

Thanks.

With the buldge, front center, it looked like it may have had a crank mechanism there.

. . .I haven't seen that before.

[Jason 74 911]

There is a cap un the underside where a crank would go, but it is power. It is very similar to the VW sunroofs from that era, but slighlty different. Sadly, I even have tried to find s/r cables for a '74 bug and they are not available either.