Well after 5 years of other distractions (work and lake house rebuild) , I'm back to work on the ole 48 rust bucket. I should have taken the advice of several on this great forum..."don't tear it all the way down, drive it". Well, it went frame off (most would have sent it to the scrap yard) and now after 7 years, it's coming back together. I'll have several questions and comments but for now, just one. I bought new choke and throttle cables for the 58 235 I put in it. I know how to hook them up but how do you "dress" them? Do you cut them to correct length or tie the excess down somewhere? Also, "Thank you Russ for the great sticky on the rebuild." After the long layoff, I forgot how I took most of it apart. I had parts all over the garage and wondered where half of them went.
I think I would cut cables to length, myself. The straighter the run, the easier they will work. Aso far as "dressing" them, if you mean chrome or other pretty stuff, motorcycle places usually have products to dress-up cables. With 133 posts, I can see your no stranger here, good luck with your re-start. Also, besides Ol' Chebby's sticky, if you haven't already, I would suggest purchasing the factory assembly manual, available from our host.
Thanks Steve. I was thinking the same thing about cutting them. Just ondered why they make them so dang long? I've got the manual. Problem is mine is a 48 and the manual is mostly 53. I've run into several differences along the way. I'll get there. It wont be pretty (low budget) but it will be saved from the scrap yard. Guess I used the wrong term "dress". I meant "tie them neatly".
Control Cables BE GLAD they make the new cables longer ! thata way they'll suit any engine you decide to use . They're made longer because Cab over trucks needed them . Remember to yank the center portion FULLY OUT before fitting to the dash and then to the carby , then put some bearing grease in the Bowden and slather more on the single strand as you re insert it so it'll never rust up and stick again . Remember too , you *must* prop the knob out about 1/4" before you trim the center and tighten it to the carby , this allows you to fully open the choke even as the cable ages and gets a bow in it .
I do have another question on the topic. Before I trim the Throttle cable, Is it supposed to stay out when pulled? The throttle return spring seems to pull it back in.
Yes and no ~ the original unobtanium carby return spring was very long and weak so no , the throttle cable stayed pulled out . I hope you're not thinking of using it as a cruise control ! . You can give the middle of the cable a bit of a bend with your hands , that'll make it stay pulled out . Me , I just left an old wooden clothespin on it and used that to hold it out a bit on those rare occasions I wanted a faster idle .
