Accelerator cable Hell! need a fix

[jimbeaux911]

so I foolishly decided to replace my old worn out accel cable that had a broken sheath
getting the old one out was no problem. but when I tried to insert the new one, it will not feed in from the hell hole. It barely goes in a cm or less! I cut the end of the tube off and tried to flare it out a bit, and thats when I discovered that the old teflon sheath from the old cable is STUCK in the accel cable tube. I have sprayed oil in the opening, and even tried ramming a coat hanger in. The coat hanger finds its way into the teflon sheath, rather than pushing it out as I hoped. UGH! there is nothing to grab onto to pull it out of either side. UGH!

Has anyone ever successfully removed a stuck teflon sheath from the acelerator tube? if so how? any ideas? I think if no one here has a solution, it may be time to just drill a new hole and let the cable run free in the tunnel. not what I want, but......running out of options.

any and all suggestions are appreciated!

Jim

[Emo993]

Hi Jim, funny just did mine an hour ago, went well. Soo, you mentioned hell hole. Are you trying to feed the new one back to the front from the engine area.....I was worried about the same thing. The teflon is about 40 inches long and 4.5 mm thick. If you only got a little of the teflon out, I would try a much stiffer wire (maybe about 4mm thick) and solvent to loosen and push it forward and out. Best, Mark

[jimbeaux911]

yeah I set up an IV drip of PB plaster, got the car jacked up at an angle, and am feeding oil into the tube. gonna let it soak in overnight. I just got back from the hardware store, I have a 3/8 s steel rod, I think I can use it as a ram rod, but unfortunately, I think the engine is gonna have to come out to get a good angle on the tube. not what I was hoping for.

I am contemplating plugging the end of the tube with JB weld, and then blasting it through with compressed air. Desperate right!

[John Rogers]

Both our 914s (1973 and 1974) had an inspection cover a bit in front of the bulkhead with a couple screws holding it down. If you have one it is very easy to get into there and pull the remaining stuff out. You can also keep pushing in from the rear and open the front cover and pull it out that way.

[jimbeaux911]

Thanks John. I have everything removed, mine is a 71. the tube seems to be one solid peice from the firewall to about 3 inches infront of the the shifter. I have tried pushing and pulling from either end, so far no luck. Gonna blast it with air today, ahve soaked it overnight in oil, hoping for the best.

thanks for the help.

[John Rogers]

I would suggest running a length of wire in from the rear and have several feet come out the front of the tube/tunnel. Then loop the wire back on itself and wrap it well with lock wire and use that to grab the inner liner that is stuck in the tube. Pull and push and it will come loose eventually.

[Emo993]

Hey Jim, John has a good idea.....Do you still have wire stuck or is it only the teflon outer coating.....If it's only the teflon, you could feed a cut off wire through, or old throttle cable using the threaded end to pull the teflon out. I do have my old cable you could have to use if needed. Mark

[jimbeaux911]

All good ideas. I dont know how easy or impossible it would be to thread a wire thru as I hav not tried yet. thats an awfully small hole to hit inside the tube with a wire, but it might be possible. I am gonna go easy first, with compressed air. if that doesnt get it, I can try the wire feed. currently there is no wire in it, as mine was broken and frayed at the front end. when I pulled from the back it broke and slid right out leaving the threaded front end in the car.

Thanks for teh offer of the old cable, I might (hope not) take u up on it!

Jim

[Emo993]

Soo, you should be able to slide the cable in from the rear (engine area). Collect it up front and pull like hell, or jerks to break it loose. Your using the threaded end as a puller. Again about 40 inches of the teflon in the tube. Gladly send it, I owe you for the clutch disk. Mark

[jimbeaux911]

wow that cable doesnt look anything like the one I took out. mine is frayed and loose and there is no way I would be able to thread it thru. yours might work. Ill let you know tomorrow if the air blast doesnt work.

Thanks!

[John Rogers]

Go to Home Depot or some other store that sells stuff and buy a 10 to 12 foot length of cable, make sure the cutter does not fray the ends. Solder the end so it will not fray and the bend it back and wire it after you snake it through the tube.

[jimbeaux911]

regrettably, the air blast did not produce any movement of the teflon sleeve.
so now its time to start threaded the needle. Thanks for ideas. Ill keep you posted.

[jimbeaux911]

SUCCESS!!!! only took a week! and now I have some welding to do to undo the damage! but its out!!!!

So I cut the center tunnel open, then used a dremel to slice the accel tube enough to grab the plastic sheath. It still didnt want to come out, but eventually gave way! Whoo hoo!

Thanks for the help Pelicaners!

Jim