There are 2 types of cable housing to be aware of. 1 looks like a spring of sorts. It is wire wound like a spring and the cable slides through the center of this helical housing.
The other type is solid, again the cable slides through this too but it is much harder to shorten. There is a seal at the end of the solid type but it isn't necessary. You can cut through the housing if careful with a set of cable strippers if you have a set that is large enough to close without damaging the cable. There are other ways as well, that is an example. The wound type is easier because you can just start unwinding the housing until you are happy with the length, cut the housing with good old wire cutters and fix the new end on the cable. Now to add to all this trouble, there are 2 types of cable too. The solid cable that has always been around and the very flexible type that has a round end braised to the cable. Those are a PIA to work with. If you have the solid wire cable running through the housing, it can be shortened with a bit of trying. To put a new end on the cable, you will need a pair of "Zippo" pliers. They are a set of vice grips that have a pair of blocks welded to the jaws. 1 block is shorter than the other so when squeezed the blocks form a Z looking end in the cable. You can bend your own end with lineman pliers as a last resort. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale Leavens To: [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 2:32 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Ideas on shortening a throttle cable? I got my plate compactor but I am a little uncomfortable with the operating mechanism. When the engine is throttled up the machine begins marching forward but the kill is at the front of the unit about as far from the operating handle as it is possible to get and thee throttle is down along the side as part of the carburetor. I can easily bore a small hole to insert the tip of a throttle cable and fabricate a bracket to install under a nut on the engine for the free end of the sleeve but my problem is that the cable is 6 feet long and I only need about two and a half. I have some ideas as to how I might shorten it, the steel of the cable is hard like heck but I thought I might start with the collective intellect of these groups. Some of you are on both of course ; Any suggestions which would minimize risk to the smooth operation of the cable would be appreciated. Thanks. . and the thro [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
