gearbox tensioning cable to long !!

[martin418]

1955 series 2 803cc , original gearbox ,todays interesting problem , i have just renewed all the engine and gearbox mounting rubbers and engine stabilizer assembly , everything lined up fine and it all sits nicely but both my new and old tensioning cable are too long by about 1/4'' !!! at max adjustment , i loosened all the mounts and let it all settle , all the bolt holes line up with no problem and nothing is bent , clutch linkage lines up perfectly , no vibration at idle , i think i might just modify the mounting plate and done with it

[philthehill]

Only after car No: 264013 was the Engine Steady Cable factory fitted.
If your car is earlier than that number the car has had the cable retrospectively fitted and that is the problem.[frame][/frame]

[martin418]

hi good thought , unfortunately my car is number 346756 ,

[bmcecosse]

Good news is - it doesn't want to be tight anyway! It's there to restrain the power unit in event of an emergency stop - to save it lurching forward in to the radiator. So 1/4" clearance will be fine..

[philthehill]

Does the cable and fitments match the dimensions and style in the drawing above?

[martin418]

the drawing looks spot on , i will check the dimensions tomorrow , the old cable i took off was loose but i thought it was due to the ''soggy '' mountings as the gearbox was sitting low

[ian.mcdougall]

are the engine mounts handed I seem to recall if fitted the wrong way round it alters the position of the engine fore and aft. then again i might be having another senior moment

[chesney]

They are handed, how much of a difference it makes I can't comment. The flat part goes forward, in other words if you think of the mounts as being built like a 'U' then the space goes towards the rear of the car.

[martin418]

none of the mounts are listed as handed but i will double check the old ones but i think if the engine mounts were on wrong the gearbox mounts would be under tension and all the mounting holes lined up fine

[simmitc]

It's the towers that are handed, the mounts (rubber blocks) are not handed.

[martin418]

update undid everything again including both engine mounting towers and gave the engine a very scientific yank forwards , tightened it all up and it's nearly right ,less than 1/8'' out, i can get an 1/8'' by threading the cable end a bit more so problem solved

[bmcecosse]

It has to be left SLACK ! It's not intended to be tight - or you will have excessive vibration into the bodyshell.....

[martin418]

hi yes it's not going to be tight it was just so loose even at full adjustment it was not going to work , a few more turns of thread has done the job perfectly

[les]

The moment you feel it start to tension, stop. So not exactly slack!

[dudload]

Only after car No: 264013 was the Engine Steady Cable factory fitted.
If your car is earlier than that number the car has had the cable retrospectively fitted and that is the problem.[frame][/frame]

any idea if these brackets are available anywhere Phil? my new project doesn't have one and keen to fit the cable!

[philthehill]

Your best bet is either club spares or from 'e' bay.