Handbrake cable lock

[element]

Under the car, above the propshaft there is the handbrake adjuster mechanism. I recently adjusted mine... Undid the 24mm bolt and picked out the lead plug, moved the cable through a bit more then put a new bit of lead in & screwed the bolt down as tight as I could... Then spent ages getting the adjuster mechanism back in place; not easy when its all 10" from your nose...! A few days later the car was on the drive (slopes downhill) & I put the handbrake on, 2 clicks but didn't feel right so gave it another click and the inevitable happened.. It pulled the cable through the lead plug... At least that's what I think happened - getting underneath tomorrow to find out for sure.
So the question is - is there a better way to secure the cable in the 24mm locking nut/bolt design? Can I / should I for instance - heat and melt the lead pellet in the well to then seal around the cable? Is that how its meant to be done? Kind of wary about the idea as its pretty close to the fuel pipe though I think I can probably shield it...

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

IIRC the plug was originally an aluminium disk...mine went south years ago & I never replaced it. But I do use a big extension bar to get some torque into the nut...which is easier if the tunnel top is easily removable, which is not the case with the factory carpet set. I'd prefer to find a better design but go-faster (or just go) bits usually get priority

[b_caswell]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

http://wireropeshop.co.uk/wire-store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_277_72

not sure how these work but be worth exploring. Revised link shows how it works could be a possible solution.

[tony.branson76]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

As red roadster says it's not lead but aluminium. I think it is 10mm in diameter. You need to cut a 4mm slice off a rod and anneal it by taking the chill off it with a blow lamp. When you tighten the bolt it wraps around the cable and work hardens to make a pretty firm joint. Despite this I have put a further clamp on the cable just forward of the lever.

[element]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

Ok Aluminium heated to soften it would be an idea - but definitely the original one that came out of ours last yr was lead
However, I do like this simple swage eye from Ben's link - simple & probably as perfect as can be.. I'll order one tonight!

[scott h]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

http://wireropeshop.co.uk/wire-store...cPath=1_277_72
not sure how these work but be worth exploring. Revised link shows how it works could be a possible solution.

I used one of those for the Sierra handbrake cable on my Berlinetta. Unfortunately the smallest one available was just too large, but if I could find one smaller it would work well. For more info see my build diary, Berlinetta build and restoration page 17.

[b_caswell]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

I used one of those for the Sierra handbrake cable on my Berlinetta. Unfortunately the smallest one available was just too large, but if I could find one smaller it would work well. For more info see my build diary, Berlinetta build and restoration page 17.

They supply 3, 4 , 5 and 6mm but not sure what size the Marina cable is.

[element]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

I measured the cable & it looks like 1/8" - 4mm or thereabouts. Went to buy the wire end bit & they want to charge £8.99 for postage to central Scotland (we tend to get a lot of absurd postage rates up here - yet we are still in the mainland & Royal Mail costs the same were it London or Perth!!!). Instead I googled 'Steel cable end fittings' & found that my local screwfix does something even simpler!

http://www.screwfix.com/p/wire-rope-accessories-grey-4mm-x-8-pack/30192?kpid=30192&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%2520Listing%2520Ads-_-Sales%2520Tracking-_-sales%2520tracking%2520url&gclid=CISD74qDw9MCFdIV0wodOfwHVA&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CPSVp4uDw9MCFQGKdwodop8EuQ

Good reviews for them & I was going into Screwfix tomorrow anyway! Big result!

[greyV8pete]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

I measured the cable & it looks like 1/8" - 4mm or thereabouts. Went to buy the wire end bit & they want to charge £8.99 for postage to central Scotland (we tend to get a lot of absurd postage rates up here - yet we are still in the mainland & Royal Mail costs the same were it London or Perth!!!). Instead I googled 'Steel cable end fittings' & found that my local screwfix does something even simpler!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/wire-rope-...FQGKdwodop8EuQ

Good reviews for them & I was going into Screwfix tomorrow anyway! Big result!

Mmmm? For a brake cable I would want steel for a straight "compressed" fixing like that. I don’t think that aluminium will have enough residual grip on the wire cable.

Have a look at one of the Marlin build manuals, Cabrio maybe? It shows the way to crimp the end of a shortened handbrake cable using a piece of drilled mild steel rod that is then hammered into a simple Vee block to give a sort of hexagonal crimped end, much like the facory fitted ones that are done in a press tool. Peter.

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

Here's a more expensive alternative...I wonder if the fork-style might be more useful..?

https://www.stalok.com/product/sta-lok-fork

[element]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

There's a selection in the bag from screwfix.. The one which is like a figure of 8 should do fine; feed the wire through & then feed it back again & good strong pressure (yet to figure how I can do that under the car in the propshaft tunnel with limited space ). Reading the reviews on the screwfix website, most seem to have used 2 big hammers... I have a few of them. I'll let you know how I get on with it.

[b_caswell]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

If you have a pair of bolt cutters you could try covering the blades with some small scraps of metal sheet and use them to squeeze the fitting together without cutting it in half.

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Handbrake cable lock

I did something similar with a piece of copper pipe and a bolt on my (modified) handbrake cable ends.