Rubber Tubes for Choke Cable

[LAW75]

I'm looking for the black rubber tubes that cover the choke cable (Healey BJ8). I went to the usual car part stores. They do not have the specific tubes needed (shooting to get the "toy" into concours level and just around the corner). The cable covers are semi-gloss with a OD of 5/16 and a probable ID of 6mm or 1/4". Also the problem with the tubes that the car part stores have is that they are flat finished AND have all the dimension/part no printed all over the tubes. I ordered a new cable from Moss, but it did not come with the tube and they said they don.t have or know who might. Any suggestions out there? Thanks.

 

[red57]

Try a bicycle or motorcycle shop, they may have cable covers the size you need

 

[LAW75]

Thanks Red. Will try on Monday and report back to our members.

 

[LAW75]

My 2 hours of research revealed: 1. neither bike nor motorcycle shops have, what they call, Cable Housing.
2. web search (Amazon ++) did not reveal. 3. Car part stores had a close fitting product but they all have white paint print indicating part # and/or size. 4. Lowes has a somewhat similar product= EZ-FLOW tubing, which closest size was ID 1/4 OD 3/8. However it is not exact as the rubber housing is a matt finish while the original is semi-gloss. So, I shifted gears and went back to a motorcycle repair shop to ask for any cables they have which construction would include a semi-gloss rubber "protective" covering. Here I found almost a duplicate (needs cutting down to size) and I am going with that (2 for $60...as it has the cable and connectors that I need to remove). Hope this helps anyone and thanks for the help.

 

[roscoe]

An alternative would possibly be electrical heat shrink tubing. Comes in all colors and diameters, can buy by the foot, comes in various thicknesses including water proof. No need to get the exact diameter as it also comes in several levels of shrinkability. Just a thought.

 

[LAW75]

I thought of that. Since I am getting in shape for a Concours completion, I could not use the shrink as, 1. it is not a semi-gloss finish and 2. shrink rap is not the original style so I would get some % of a point taken off.

 

[roscoe]

There is shrink tubing that has a matte (dull) finish. You have to shop around.

 

[gonzo]

Quick thought: Have you considered the poly tubing used for drip irrigation systems?

 

[LAW75]

A porsche mechanic had "extra" in his shop. Perfect match!! (shrink wrap would not work as it is not "Concours" quality. Contra to original semi-gloss, the shrink wrap is a matt finish. Further the "shrink" would clearly show a difference.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Quick thought: Have you considered the poly tubing used for drip irrigation systems?

That’s what I used, and there’s black plastic poly tubing from British Wiring Supply too.

 

[AUSMHLY]

I ordered a new cable from Moss, but it did not come with the tube and they said they don.t have or know who might. Any suggestions out there? Thanks.

The choke cable system consists of a flexible metal cable sheath with a twisted flexible metal cable. Problem is two metal surfaces rub against each other and when water gets in the sheath, hello rust. You know you have this problem when you have to put your foot on the dash panel so you can use both hands to pull the choke knob out. Seriously, have you noticed the dash panel move.

What I did was replace the inner steel cable with a bicycle cable system (brake or shift) that has a teflon sheath with a metal cable. It's diameter is the same as the factory metal cable. You can find cables with the same size round lead cap as identical to the original cable. Or you can file it to the same shape and size so to fit into the remote control cable block.

It's hidden inside the original metal sheath, so no one knows. Not even the Concours guys.
Now pulling on the choke is like butter.

 

[LAW75]

A mechanic friend that specializes in Foreign cars contacted his contact in Germany and found the correct cable sleeve . Done deal.