throttle cable trouble, sleeve broken, stuck in tube... Options

[lotus_65]

My throttle cable broke at the carb linkage so it needed to be replaced. No big deal, right?

Unfortunately the white plastic sleeve is broken at the firewall and WILL NOT BUDGE. Won't pull, won't push.

I can (barely) get a needle nose on it, but it seems bound up inside the tube somewhere. I haven't pulled the cable out of the sleeve yet, as I had hoped to attach a string to help the new cable into place.

I also dis-assembled the interior to get at the tunnel from the shifter, but there's no obvious advantage there. I ALMOST bought a sawzall to cut another access panel there, but came off that ledge... for now.

What a PITA. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Anyone?
paul

[Brando]

I had the same problem when my throttle cable broke. Only difference is as I tried to pull the rest of my cable through, it snapped. Just fucking great, I thought. 4 hours to undo the damage of a bent throttle cable tube, which was the original caust of the problem.

Take your time, be patient. If you get the big (threaded) end of the throttle cable stuck in the sleeve, try going back the opposite way. Get a pair of locking vice grips and try to hold the tip in place while you pull the sleeve out. I have seen on many occasions that the tube for the throttle cable is bent, too small or somehow rough or jagged inside. This makes removal all but easy. I had to coordinate a method of pulling towards the pedal cluster and out the back to stop the sheath from binding on the cable itself. Over the course of an hour (final hour) I had the last broken off segment of cable out of the car. After which I reamed the tube for the cable a little larger. Slid the new one in and vigorously lubed the entry wound.

Time and patience. If you must at all resort to destruction, cut a very very small hole around the tube and weld in a new, straight and unmolested tube.