87 RRC a/t shift cable

T

Tor

Guest

• Feb 21, 2005

• #1

Howdy from Maine. Yesterday morning, the automatic transmission shifter
cable on my 87 RRC snapped. It had been shifting some awful wicked hard
just previously. I had been able to get it into any gear just fine; I
just had to give it more force than had been customary. This morning,
in the 10 degree F balminess of New England, I found that the cable had
snapped just at its connection with the shifting handle. I'm hoping
that, when things get warmer, I'll be able to remove the cable, clean
and lubricate it, and reattach it, assuming that the cable was the only
problem. Does anyone have any ideas about how to put a new fastener on
the end of the cable so I could avoid paying $300 for a new one?
Otherwise, does anyone know if the shifter cables for the 89 RRC are
compatible? I have a line on a used one from eBay. I'd also appreciate
it if anyone has any ideas about other compatible cables that might not
be so dear.

Peace,

Tor

 

S

Steve Medlock

Guest

• Feb 21, 2005

• #2

I don't know personally, but Rimmer Bros www.rimmerbros.co.uk only list one
cable for the 4 spd auto (and yes it is expensive) so that suggests the 89
may be the same.

"Tor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Howdy from Maine. Yesterday morning, the automatic transmission shifter
> cable on my 87 RRC snapped. It had been shifting some awful wicked hard
> just previously. I had been able to get it into any gear just fine; I
> just had to give it more force than had been customary. This morning,
> in the 10 degree F balminess of New England, I found that the cable had
> snapped just at its connection with the shifting handle. I'm hoping
> that, when things get warmer, I'll be able to remove the cable, clean
> and lubricate it, and reattach it, assuming that the cable was the only
> problem. Does anyone have any ideas about how to put a new fastener on
> the end of the cable so I could avoid paying $300 for a new one?
> Otherwise, does anyone know if the shifter cables for the 89 RRC are
> compatible? I have a line on a used one from eBay. I'd also appreciate
> it if anyone has any ideas about other compatible cables that might not
> be so dear.
>
> Peace,
>
> Tor

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Feb 21, 2005

• #3

On or around Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:49:54 -0000, "Steve Medlock"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>I don't know personally, but Rimmer Bros www.rimmerbros.co.uk only list one
>cable for the 4 spd auto (and yes it is expensive) so that suggests the 89
>may be the same.
>

's a fancy cable which pushes as well as pulls, not a normal type. I guess
that's why it's pricey.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Confidence: Before important work meetings, boost your confidence by
reading a few pages from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead"
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

 

T

Tor

Guest

• Feb 22, 2005

• #4

Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> On or around Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:49:54 -0000, "Steve Medlock"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>I don't know personally, but Rimmer Bros www.rimmerbros.co.uk only
>>list one cable for the 4 spd auto (and yes it is expensive) so that
>>suggests the 89 may be the same.
>>
>
> 's a fancy cable which pushes as well as pulls, not a normal type. I
> guess that's why it's pricey.
>

Thanks to you both for the input. I guess it makes sense that a 4-speed
tranny cable is a 4-speed tranny cable, within the same model family, since
the distance covered by the levers in the operators' hands will be the
same.

I'm hoping that the fanciness of the cable means it's sturdy enough to be
welded or crimped in order to be reattached at the operator's lever. When
I first saw the stub of it poking into the box containing the lever and its
machinations, I thought it to be a stopping bolt or the like. I didn't
realize its true identity till I lifted the box out of the floor. At that
point, I needed to get out of the cold. Hopefully I'll have time next
weekend to do more about my poor, disabled Rangie.

Peace,
Tor

 

B

Badger

Guest

• Feb 22, 2005

• #5

"Tor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> On or around Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:49:54 -0000, "Steve Medlock"
>> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>>>I don't know personally, but Rimmer Bros www.rimmerbros.co.uk only
>>>list one cable for the 4 spd auto (and yes it is expensive) so that
>>>suggests the 89 may be the same.
>>>
>>
>> 's a fancy cable which pushes as well as pulls, not a normal type. I
>> guess that's why it's pricey.
>>
>
> Thanks to you both for the input. I guess it makes sense that a 4-speed
> tranny cable is a 4-speed tranny cable, within the same model family,
> since
> the distance covered by the levers in the operators' hands will be the
> same.
>
> I'm hoping that the fanciness of the cable means it's sturdy enough to be
> welded or crimped in order to be reattached at the operator's lever.

Very unlikely, the weld would end up being a stress-point due to the
temperature whilst welding and it would break quickly again. If you try to
crimp, you will be altering the effective length and I doubt if there is
enough adjustment at the gearbox end to compensate and actually get it set
up right.

> When
> I first saw the stub of it poking into the box containing the lever and
> its
> machinations, I thought it to be a stopping bolt or the like. I didn't
> realize its true identity till I lifted the box out of the floor. At that
> point, I needed to get out of the cold. Hopefully I'll have time next
> weekend to do more about my poor, disabled Rangie.

Buy the cable off ebay or wherever, and replace it. If you bodge it you'll
only end up with it failing at the most inopertune moment in the most
inhospitable place with the most inclement weather.

Badger.

 

B

beamendsltd

Guest

• Feb 22, 2005

• #6

In message <[email protected]>
Tor <[email protected]> wrote:

> Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > On or around Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:49:54 -0000, "Steve Medlock"
> > <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
> >
> >>I don't know personally, but Rimmer Bros www.rimmerbros.co.uk only
> >>list one cable for the 4 spd auto (and yes it is expensive) so that
> >>suggests the 89 may be the same.
> >>
> >
> > 's a fancy cable which pushes as well as pulls, not a normal type. I
> > guess that's why it's pricey.
> >
>
> Thanks to you both for the input. I guess it makes sense that a 4-speed
> tranny cable is a 4-speed tranny cable, within the same model family, since
> the distance covered by the levers in the operators' hands will be the
> same.
>
> I'm hoping that the fanciness of the cable means it's sturdy enough to be
> welded or crimped in order to be reattached at the operator's lever. When
> I first saw the stub of it poking into the box containing the lever and its
> machinations, I thought it to be a stopping bolt or the like. I didn't
> realize its true identity till I lifted the box out of the floor. At that
> point, I needed to get out of the cold. Hopefully I'll have time next
> weekend to do more about my poor, disabled Rangie.
>
> Peace,
> Tor

I don't know what the score is the USA, but a motor bike shop
specialising in classic bikes may well be abke to help mend the
cable, as they often have to make them up for older bikes.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Feb 22, 2005

• #7

On or around Tue, 22 Feb 2005 08:45:01 +0000 (UTC), beamendsltd
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>I don't know what the score is the USA, but a motor bike shop
>specialising in classic bikes may well be abke to help mend the
>cable, as they often have to make them up for older bikes.

I reckon you'll be lucky, on that cable. It's a long way beyond a simple
bowden cable.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"My centre is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent.
I shall attack. - Marshal Foch (1851 - 1929)

 

B

Badger

Guest

• Feb 22, 2005

• #8

"Tor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>
>> 's a fancy cable which pushes as well as pulls, not a normal type. I
>> guess that's why it's pricey.
>>
>
> Thanks to you both for the input. I guess it makes sense that a 4-speed
> tranny cable is a 4-speed tranny cable, within the same model family,
> since
> the distance covered by the levers in the operators' hands will be the
> same.
>
> I'm hoping that the fanciness of the cable means it's sturdy enough to be
> welded or crimped in order to be reattached at the operator's lever. When
> I first saw the stub of it poking into the box containing the lever and
> its
> machinations, I thought it to be a stopping bolt or the like. I didn't
> realize its true identity till I lifted the box out of the floor. At that
> point, I needed to get out of the cold. Hopefully I'll have time next
> weekend to do more about my poor, disabled Rangie.
>
Why not just accept the fact that the original has lasted for the best part
of 18 years, a repair may not last or the cable will simply fail at the
other end pretty soon. FWIW, spray some WD40 or similar penetrative /
displacing fluid around the selector shaft where it enters the 'box to ease
the cable force required as that is the prime cause of cables failing at the
selector end. Bite the bullet and replace the cable with either new or known
good.
Badger.

 

T

Tor

Guest

• Feb 23, 2005

• #9

"Badger" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Why not just accept the fact that the original has lasted for the best
> part of 18 years, a repair may not last or the cable will simply fail
> at the other end pretty soon. FWIW, spray some WD40 or similar
> penetrative / displacing fluid around the selector shaft where it
> enters the 'box to ease the cable force required as that is the prime
> cause of cables failing at the selector end. Bite the bullet and
> replace the cable with either new or known good.
> Badger.
>
>
>

I think this is the conclusion I'm inevitably coming to. More than one
mechanic I've spoken with today has mentioned that the rest of the cable is
too suspect. Thanks again to all of you for all your input!

Peace,

Tor

 

T

Tor

Guest

• Mar 20, 2005

• #10

"Badger" <[email protected]> averred thusly in
news:[email protected]:

>
> "Tor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>> 's a fancy cable which pushes as well as pulls, not a normal type.
>>> I guess that's why it's pricey.
>>>
>>
>> Thanks to you both for the input. I guess it makes sense that a
>> 4-speed tranny cable is a 4-speed tranny cable, within the same model
>> family, since
>> the distance covered by the levers in the operators' hands will be
>> the same.
>>
>> I'm hoping that the fanciness of the cable means it's sturdy enough
>> to be welded or crimped in order to be reattached at the operator's
>> lever. When I first saw the stub of it poking into the box
>> containing the lever and its
>> machinations, I thought it to be a stopping bolt or the like. I
>> didn't realize its true identity till I lifted the box out of the
>> floor. At that point, I needed to get out of the cold. Hopefully
>> I'll have time next weekend to do more about my poor, disabled
>> Rangie.
>>
> Why not just accept the fact that the original has lasted for the best
> part of 18 years, a repair may not last or the cable will simply fail
> at the other end pretty soon. FWIW, spray some WD40 or similar
> penetrative / displacing fluid around the selector shaft where it
> enters the 'box to ease the cable force required as that is the prime
> cause of cables failing at the selector end. Bite the bullet and
> replace the cable with either new or known good.
> Badger.
>
>
>

Hello again; here's where I'm at.

The cable from the salvage yard has arrived. It's beautiful, and seems to
be exactly like the one I want to replace.

Trouble is, I can't get at the middle part of the old cable to get it off.
The gear selector end and the other end are quite easily accessible.

My Haynes manual shows that some Rangies have an access panel on the side
of the footwell. Mine apparently does not.

Please, somebody tell me it isn't necessary to drop the whole tranny just
to replace this cable. Or tell me how to get enough of the flooring up to
get at it. I don't see any screws where I'd like them to be. There are
rivets at the top of the footwell, but even if I popped them, I don't think
I'd have enough clearance to reach the central cable clamp.

Peace,

Tor

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