Frozen TCS Handbrake Cables - any hope?

[Bryan Boyle]

Thanks - very helpful!

As for the acorns, pretty sure it was through the convenient round "cable extraction" hole in the center of the slot.

Ron

IIRC, the clips that hold the sheath in the frame have a little tab at one end that lets you get a pair of needle nose or equivalent on them to pull up.  Not like the "e" clips on shafts, etc., but it's one way to get them out (it's easier if the shift tube is removed, but that's going down the shipwright disease path...).

Opening up the spring end?  Again, it's fiddly.  I think they installed this whole thing in the frame when the body was off and engine out.  I know that's how I do it when renovating a bare frame.  But, I used, again, needle nose to open up the end in at the frame end.  Can see where it would be a case of learning 3 or 4 more languages to express how much it sucks to do it in the frame.  Don't know what to tell you there, never done it with the shell on the frame. 

Just some thoughts from one with the scars on the forearms to prove it from reaching inside the tunnel from the cockpit.

[FourLoti]

Thanks Bryan: You are so right. If I posted a photo of my arms it would make some people ill!

I have succeeded with some crazy ass car part challenges in my time, but am throwing in the towel on this one. I can feel the tabs on the C clip on the left cable, but the right cable disappears beneath the lower coolant tube. Can't feel a thing! And then, there's the question of putting them back in!

I mentioned reading that someone removed the engine and I think that's the only way (in order to remove the coolant pipes.)

But the partial good news is that I did finally get some movement going back and forth and am now able to pull the clevis ends out by hand (as opposed to my slide hammer deal) Whether it will eventually loosen up enough for the shoe springs to pull them out is still a question. I plan to cobble up a way to hold the clevis ends vertical and drip feed thin oil - for a long time!

If that doesn't work, then someday if I ever sell this car on BAT, I'll need to add one of those famous BAT disclaimers, as in:  "The Seller notes that the handbrake is inoperable."

Cheers,

Ron