Hi Folks. I have a bit of a problem with my cables seizing in cold weather. I don't drive off road so it isn't mud or water build up. I'm just wondering if anyone else has run into this frustrating problem and what I can do to eliminate it. I take the truck out of my garage and drive for approximately 2- 5 miles then BAM the accelorator is to the mat (usually) sometimes it's 1/2 way. So I have to baby it home. Once back in the "bat cave" it comes free after a couple of hours. I cleaned the dust and such from both ends and I don't see any sign of wear or fraying. With a tight or non- exisyant budget I'm hoping that you the wizards of the mini truck world can help a guy out with a tip or two to help alleviate this frustrating problem. I hate the thoughts of leaving it in the garage for the winter, no fun there right. So any help, guidance or advice would be greatly appreciated.
i don't see anywhere in your post that you've tried cable lubricant? you might give that a shot. you can usually find some good cable lube at a motorcycle shop.
Does the outer casing have a plastic sheath? You might check for cracks that would allow moisture to penetrate. As Milt suggested they need to be lube'd, I would work on the highest end of the cable so you can let gravity work in your favour. If necessary put old rags around to absorb excess lube and just give it a shot every day until it stops binding on you. I have always had good luck over the years with Lloyds products like Moovit or AD2000 - I think this might be better than Moovit for your problem as it will "creap" along the cable. Lloyds Laboratories
stuck on cables Will do and will do. Thanks Milt and Timetripper. I'll get on that this weekend. What about trying to dry it out with brake cleaner first? A friend mentioned trying that first and then trying a dry lube (graphite) or equivalent? Apperently the guy I bought the truck from had had it up to the doors in mud and water, but I would have thought that it would have dissipated in the months since I've owned it.
the forklifts we have at work have a "clutch pedal" it disengages the auto trans and applies the brake. about every six months i have to take the cables off, clamp the sheath in the vice and soak them with some PB Blaster to free them up. once they are sliding freely again i clean them out with some compressed air, add a little cable lube and re install them. the most important part is making sure you have all the garbage out of there that is causing it to seize up or it will continue to happen.
Condensation/ Water freeze- ups Well once I bow my head in honor of the masters of the mini trucks. I finally got the throttle cable off and I set it out on my deck, it's -15c here with a wind chill of -26. Lo and behold it siezed in a matter of minutes. When I brought it into my semi-heated garage it freed in a matter of a couple of tugs. I've hung it to see if any water would drip out. sure enough a bit has dripped into the dish below. Tomorrow I'll lube it and put it back together and take it out for a test run. The temperature is supposed to stay cold so it'll freeze pretty quick. Keep your fingers crossed and thanks again for your input. Your knowledge has been very useful and informative. Merry Christmas to all my fellow mini truck enthusiasts.
If you can feed the lube in from the top of the hanging cable and work the inner core back and forth until you see lube come out the bottom then you should hopefully have it beat.
Freed at last, Freed at last. Thank God... Like Martin Luther Jr. said "Thank God Almighty It's Freed ay last". I hung it as sussested and sprayed brake cleaner down the inside of the casing until it dripped through. Next I put 3-in-one oil down and let it hang for a couple of hours. Gave it the outside freezer test, no siezing at all. Installed it in the truck. I then put the truck into the outside freezer and left it for a couple of hours. I'm happy to say the gas cable works like a charm but... now I have to do the same to the clutch peddle. Good thing I've developed patience over the years or the little truck could very easily be sportin' a whole lot of new dents. I'll post when I get into the job.
