34 replies to this topic

[drpau]

I had an absolute mare with mine the other week, one area had been stiched narrower than the rest and would if fcuk get past it. Never want to have to do that job again!!!

[Amoger]

I had an absolute mare with mine the other week, one area had been stiched narrower than the rest and would if fcuk get past it. Never want to have to do that job again!!!

Yet to get the cable to do it, but does look a ridiculously tight fit - you'd think they'd have modded the roof over time to make it easier not harder, seeing as it's clearly something that every long-lived VX will need eventually. Can't be any easier for a Vaux mechanic to do.

[Amoger]

Right - finally got the cable. Got to about "Plan G" before getting it fitted. 1. Do the steps above to remove screws with 3mm Allen key. 2. Unpick one of the two layers of stitching to give more space. 3. (My guess was right) pull the broken cable out the easy way, pulling through the broken end, but with some string both tied and duct-taped to it. 4. Use a long enough length of string that you can thread the end of the new cable with it. 5. Now tie one end on to the string itself, pulling that back through. 6. Result: you've got the cable end looped with string at on end, and effectively double string the other. Can now pull through with no attaching issues (a simple knot/duct taped was too large to pull through. 7. Fit, and hope you've got the length roughly right.. My first test will be on the motorway later. Anyone about to embark on this, feel free to PM/email me.

[Mangham54]

Ooh this subject comes round and round. Just been taking out my soft top thermal protection pack (toasty warm even with soft top) and thought to myself that the cable would benefit from being tightened.... Doh! So I have had to create a temporary fix as it was the front one and didn't fancy it flapping around on the motorway up to Newcastle tomorrow. So choices, choices, do I go for the Eliz special or the Loti replacement (if they do one). Hmmm?

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Ooh this subject comes round and round. Just been taking out my soft top thermal protection pack (toasty warm even with soft top) and thought to myself that the cable would benefit from being tightened.... Doh!

So I have had to create a temporary fix as it was the front one and didn't fancy it flapping around on the motorway up to Newcastle tomorrow. So choices, choices, do I go for the Eliz special or the Loti replacement (if they do one).

Hmmm?

pm sent

[Mangham54]

Ooh this subject comes round and round. Just been taking out my soft top thermal protection pack (toasty warm even with soft top) and thought to myself that the cable would benefit from being tightened.... Doh!

So I have had to create a temporary fix as it was the front one and didn't fancy it flapping around on the motorway up to Newcastle tomorrow. So choices, choices, do I go for the Eliz special or the Loti replacement (if they do one).

Hmmm?

pm sent

PM received, cheers Fab

[ianrm]

Just replaced the rear cable on mine. There was no way the new cable (Elise parts) was going to pull through so I removed the line of stitching making the slot bigger. I then removed the eye with the adjuster, taped the barrel part of the adjuster to the cable and simply pushed it through.

 

It took me about 20 minutes in total   

[Mangham54]

Not meaning to sound derogatory of Eliz's alternative, if the Lotarse part was a struggle to fit then Eliz's would have been an order more as you can't unscrew the chunky parts. I too had to take a line of stitching out as Lotus (or whoever supplied them) had made the tunnel far too small.

[WrightStuff]

What an absolute pain of a job, and a reminder why I never do any jobs on this car if I can avoid them.

 

If you manage to get in the situation where you're pulling the old cable through and it detaches part way (because the stitching is so tight) just pull the old cable out completely. Snip the ends off if you have to.

Then get an old metal coat hanger, straighten it out, and being the right length and stiffness it will easily push all the way through the seam. You can then create a hook at the end using a pair of pliers and hook the end of the new cable on to it. Pull the new cable back through (smaller end is easiest).

 

[Bargi]

Whoa! You did something other than polishing your car! Sent from my cuntyfuckbollock phone by Twatatalk

[WrightStuff]

Whoa! You did something other than polishing your car! Sent from my cuntyfuckbollock phone by Twatatalk

 

I would say never again, but I've also got a rear light with a reflector thats come off so thats next weekends annoying job.

You can imagine how much I'm looking forward to messing that job up at £300 a light!!

[P11 COV]

What an absolute pain of a job, and a reminder why I never do any jobs on this car if I can avoid them.

 

If you manage to get in the situation where you're pulling the old cable through and it detaches part way (because the stitching is so tight) just pull the old cable out completely. Snip the ends off if you have to.

Then get an old metal coat hanger, straighten it out, and being the right length and stiffness it will easily push all the way through the seam. You can then create a hook at the end using a pair of pliers and hook the end of the new cable on to it. Pull the new cable back through (smaller end is easiest).

 

 

Alternatively get the wife to do them. She did both of mine. The first by the pool in the South of France!

[KurtVerbose]

I screwed the new cable onto the end of the old cable. Took a bit of tugging (ooh er) then went through dead easy.

 

Hardest part was undoing the screws, which were a bit stiff.

 

Took about 20 mins, but could probably repeat in about half that time.

[NDT]

I'm about to tackle this job but there's no way I'm buggering about unstitching fabric then having to restitch it.

I'd have thought it would be easier to feed a length of 2mm coated stainless cable through and put the end fittings on with a press afterwards?

[ElizP987]

attach the new cable to your old cable and pull through, a lot go through no problem, some are just stitched tighter than others

 

plus your suggestion about 'putting the end fittings on with a press afterwards', who has a press they can use?..... not many I imagine!

Hence why they are sent out made up, the crimps are put on with a 25 ton hydraulic press, not mole grips. they are made to last...

Hand spliced cable is nowhere near as strong as hydraulic-spliced cable and it won't slip like hand spliced..