by Dan Cameron
For those of you who are driving your Tiger with the original throttle cable intact you may be running an borrowed time. Worse than that, you could be in for some excitement if your throttle sticks in the open position. This happened to me recently when I mashed the pedal to the floor in first gear. After regaining my composure, I found the original cable (actually a wire) had fatigued to the point where it easily kinked, over-riding the force applied by the return spring. What I thought to be an easy fix turned out to the contrary.
Our Tiger supply houses as well as the local speed shop could not come up with the replacement parts. Because of the safety implications, to recommend a solution to the problem is not my intent. I will however, share with you how the cable was repaired. The original throttle cable sheath, being of the proper length and design, was retained.
I went to a local bicycle shop and purchased a heavy-duty replacement brake cable (not shifter cable). These are the same diameter (.042″) as the original wire. The cable comes with the appropriate ends having small die cast stops molded on them. One end looks like a “drum” and the other end looks like a miniature “bottle” similar to the ones you get on Northwest Airlines.
While at the bicycle shop, also purchase a cable-retaining bolt. This is a small bolt with a hole drilled in the threads perpendicular to the bolt centerline. Next a trip to the speed shop to purchase a Chevrolet throttle cable adapter, Edelbrock # 8009. And finally, to the auto parts store for a package of 1/4″ screw ring electrical connectors. The latter can be found on most auto electrical displays. The installation procedure is as follows:
- Cut the bicycle cable in half and save the piece with the bottle-like end.
- Feed the cable through the 1/4″ electrical screw ring from the bolt hole side until the bottle-like projection limits the travel. I was able to push the neck of the “bottle” into the wire opening eliminating the need to crimp the screw ring.
- Insert the cable through the original Tiger cable sheath and into the interior of the car.
- Put the throttle cable adapter (by Edelbrock) through one of the holes in the carburetor actuator plate, slip the “eye” of the electrical screw ring over the bolt, and retain with flat washer and cotter pin supplied.
- Finally, place the bicycle cable retaining bolt in the throttle pedal arm using the same hole as original cable and feed the new cable through the hole in the threads of the bolt. Adjust cable for the proper length and retain with a flat washer and nut.
A few final remarks
Be sure that when adjusting the cable for tension, the pedal stop should be timed perfectly with the throttle in the full open position. Also, don’t over-tighten the small throttle cable retaining bolt. They are soft and with the added hole, prone to fail.