Morris Minor Owners Club

Greetings comrades!
My cable to the pull starter switch broke a couple of years ago and I've been making do with the driver's glove box removed and pulling on a solderless nipple screwed onto the remaining bit of cable. I got a second hand one but the end is too splayed to get in the starter switch nipple - and a good new one from Bull Motif costs £19.95 + vat!
Anyone ever replaced the cable? The rod on the button seems to be squeezed up onto the cable - I've tried drilling the cable out but the small drill necessary keeps wandering off. Will the rod come out of the button?

Any ideas folks? Regards, MikeN.

I've tried drilling the cable out but the small drill necessary keeps wandering off.

Is it possible to use a centre punch to give you a point to enable the drill to work, as I have never had to replace one I havent experienced the problem if it doesnt work £20 for an item only works out at £7 a year and reducing if it takes much longer to replace.

It's a good anti theft device - can't work out how to start it!!

RogerRust wrote:It's a good anti theft device - can't work out how to start it!!

A tad on the frustrating side though If you can retwist the cable back up I use normal electrical solder to hold the ends of cables smooth. Back to my bicycle days changing just the cables as I had colour coded cable covers.

Mike,

I had a close look at the fixing on mine when I took it out yesterday.
It looks like it's crimped in two places. You might be able to release the cable by drilling the crimps. I use a pin vice and fine drills for this sort of job. Nothing ventured nothing gained. If that fails you could cut the first cm off. The rod is longer than it needs to be anyway

Hi Mike is this any good to you
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PULL-START-CABLE_ ... dZViewItem
I know its finished but you could still contact them if its of use.

Thanks for your advice, comrades (at least for the helpful stuff!)

I did as Roger suggested and cut off a cm off the end of the pull thingy thereby getting rid of the crimping that fixes the cable to the pull bit. Then I drilled it along its axis with a 3/16 inch drill (this needs a v steady hand or, for me, a pillar drill and a vice) into which a fresh cable was inserted and soldered. I used zinc chloride as a flux 'cos the pull thingy was greasy and difficult to clean. To get a clean cut without a lot of unravelled wire, I soldered where I intended to cut the cable to length, and voila! there we are.
I've just fitted it - cor! it helps to be a contortionist!
Regards to all, MikeN.

Well done Mike!
I think we should have an award for a job in the spirit of the Minor. This gets my vote. months of planning and every detail covered.
By the way don't pull it too hard!!!!

Ah, Roger, I can see you're the impetuous type; it does'nt do to be too hasty, you know. Unfortunately, real life keeps getting in the way of Moggiedom. (That is, of course, if you can call this a Real Life!) MikeN.