How common is a broken bowden cable? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

okyoureabeast · #1 11-26-2010, 10:04 PM

My car is acting like the bowden cable is disconnected

I just did a valve adjustment and I didn't experience any odd shifting behavior before I did this.

I had moved the cable and the assorted linkages back on top of the air cleaner housing.

I'm checking to see if my linkages are hooked up correctly as well.

Is it possible I flipped a linkage and this is the new result?

vstech · #2 11-26-2010, 10:16 PM

did you attach the bowden? how is it shifting odd? instant upshifts to 4th at barely off idle? or hard shifting?

theolonious · #3 11-26-2010, 10:42 PM

My bowden cable snapped yesterday. Instantly I wondered if I could braze it back together. I pulled it out with some locking pliers hoping to find a temporary in-between but the tranny shifts very lame.

I'm heading to the junk yard in the morining to try and pull one from a donor car.

I just got rid of all my vacuum leaks and found a working vacuum switch and was ready to tweak the tranny into submission. I wonder if I can scarf a b2 piston while I'm there. I hope that 84 300sd is still in the yard, its been a few weeks since I've ventured out for MB treasures. Pulled the rear brake calipers and injector lines last time. I wonder if my 5mm allen wrench is still where I left it.

My glow plug relay seems to have gone bad and my block heater isn't heating anymore. And I suspect I need a valve job. This car is keeping me busy lately.

Good Luck with the repair.

Theo

pawoSD · #4 11-26-2010, 10:53 PM

Replacing the bowden cable is rather involved. Getting the end attached inside the trans properly requires the pan to be removed. And a new o-ring is needed. Also, a used one won't work, as they are just about impossible to remove without breaking the plastic tabs once installed.....and make sure to find the broken tab pieces that fall down in the galley where it attaches.

It is NOT fun.

okyoureabeast · #5 11-26-2010, 11:02 PM

WELL! The bowden cable is not broken!

I figured out what was wrong. I did a bit of searching and stared at the throttle linkages.

I should have mentioned that I also replaced the throttle bushing at the firewall.

Someone had readjusted the linkages to compensate for the bad bushing and also changed the shift points to compensate for the change in the linkages. I pulled out a ruler and readjusted the linkage to spec. Oddly enough all of the other linkages were correct.

I then turned the bowden cable adjustment counter clockwise for giggles and took her for a spin.

Oh my gosh.

The car drives SO much faster now. Shifts were still a bit odd, so I turned the nut counter clockwise again. The shifts are returning to their normal selves, but I'll have to play with it some more.

But that bushing and in spec throttle linkages. I am so surprised those make such a HUGE difference. This car drives like a gas car now!

theolonious · #6 11-26-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Replacing the bowden cable is rather involved. Getting the end attached inside the trans properly requires the pan to be removed. And a new o-ring is needed. Also, a used one won't work, as they are just about impossible to remove without breaking the plastic tabs once installed.....and make sure to find the broken tab pieces that fall down in the galley where it attaches.

It is NOT fun.

I was reading old threads yesterday. I was gonna review them later but I thought I read that it was possible to remove the bowden cable w/o pulling the tranny pan and with out sacrificing the old cable. If I find the OP I'll post a link to it. Of course it's only about 40 bucks for a new one but I was trying to save the wait time for shipping as I'm down to one car at the moment and the 300sd is my only ride. My buddy has lent me his gasser but that is only for a limited time and I drive a lot of miles everyday.

My Pontiac needs a valve job or a new head or engine. That project needs to wait.

Has anyone ever salvaged a bowden cable??

thanks
Theo

pawoSD · #7 11-26-2010, 11:18 PM

Anyone who can get a 20+ year old bowden cable off without shattering at least one of the four brittle plastic tabs has higher powers, and then install it again without shattering one.

Its essentially impossible. A new one perhaps, but not an old brittle one...they lock into the opening too tightly.

vstech · #8 11-27-2010, 12:05 AM

I sense a challenge to my powers...

theolonious · #9 11-27-2010, 12:06 AM

Well, I want the injectors from this car anyway so while my brother pulls those I'll have a go at the bowden cable. Perhaps I'll get lucky. From my last visit I got the impression that the previous owner had done a bit of transmission work and the cable looked as tho it had been replace in the not too distant past.

How does one attempt to remove that plactic sleeve anyway? Do you squeeze it near the base with some pliers and try to wiggle it out? Or would trying to pry it out be a better strategy. Do you think heating up the metal area near the sleeve with a torch would help soften things up a bit?

Is even it foolhardy to try and remove even a newer bowden cable?? I mean the plastic seemed fairly new and not brittle at all the last time I was there.

I'll let you know how it turned out for me. I gotta try it.

Good Day!

pawoSD · #10 11-27-2010, 09:45 AM

The plastic end at the trans locks into a slot beneath the surface with 4 tightly grabbing plastic claws. You MIGHT be able to get a non-brittle one out if you worked from in the pan and gently pried each clip out with a long screwdriver....but I doubt it would work (or be worth that much suffering)

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