Finding the length of a throttle cable

[MelissaK]

Hi, folks!

I've not posted in a while, but here I am for this minute anyway.

I still have my Lagoon 42 catamaran, Vinga.

One of my throttle cables has rusted in two. I don't really want to take it off to measure, as it'd be SOOO nice to attach the new one and pull. But then I don't know what to buy.

Any ideas? I know, pull it out using a small line. Any other ideas?

Cheers,

Melissa

(Didn't make my usual storm season trip to Bonaire from St Croix because of amazing electrical glitches that seem to have been fixed.)

[Alan Wheeler]

Unless you are extrememly lucky to have a length stamped on the cable somewhere, you will have no choice but to pull it out.
Although you could pull out the internall cable and measure that, then use the external seath to pull the new compleate cable through.

[Talbot]

Measuring a new cable from the internal cable that has broken would seem to be prone to errors.

As has already been said, the size of the cable is normally stamped on the outer cable. If you cant read it, use the old outer cable to pull through a rope, and then take outer cable along to the shop to get it matched. Use the rope to pull through the new cable.

[windthief]

Looking near either end of your cable you'll find a series of numbers stamped into the sleeve. Like the previous post stated sometimes the numbers have rubbed off after long hours at sea. Back to my point these numbers are likely to be MORSE, UFLEX, or TELEFLEX and can be disiphered by your parts agent. The last three digits in this number string is usually your length. Most of the time it is set in inches. I.E. a twenty foot cable would have a number string with 240 as the last three numbers.

Best of luck,

[GordMay]

If there are no legible length markings - you will have to pull them out.
Simply attach a piece of “small stuff” or wire to the dead end, pulling that in (as a fish tape) as you extract the cable.
Use the fish tape to reinstall the new cable(s).
Good Luck,
Gord