Gearbox cable - what does this bit do?

[tingo]

Hi All,

This is a beginner's question I expect, but I can't find the answer in Haynes or on the forum.
I have changed the gear-box oil for the first time this morning, and whilst underneath the gearbox I've 'discovered' a wire cable running from the back passenger side of the gearbox to the small cross-member behind the gear box. It's a 1970 4-door saloon if it makes a difference.

The nut holding the cable behind the cross-member is loose and the cable is slack.

Please could you tell me what the cable does and whether I should tighten the nut to put it under tension. A link to a previous answer would be fine if it exists.

Many thanks for your time.

[grumpygrandad]

as i understand the cable is to stop engine going forward under hard braking or going forward in an accident, tighten till you can just flex it ,but not silly tight , this is what i was told when i ask same question , grandad ,

[tingo]

Thanks GG, that makes sense. I'll make the nut finger-tight.

[tingo]

I've found the original thread called "engine steady cable".
It is at http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?name=P ... ic&t=20998

[grumpygrandad]

if you look at the crossmember endyou will see that it has two nuts 1 is in the crossmember tighten them both to stop it coming loose again . grandad