Mikuni Carb throttle cable end trick from you tube

#4
Thanks for sharing that, I have always wanted to know hoe to do that! I used to use lead crimps and then shape it in the grinder. But that way is much better. thanks again
 
#8
Just to point something out here...that's a cool trick for keeping the end of a cable from fraying...or maybe forming the end of a throttle cable that is an odd ball and unobtainable....but not in a million years would I use that method to form the ball or barrel end of a brake cable!

Unless I'm mistaken, professionally made cables have the ends swaged on under tons of force in a special mold....they are not soldered on.

If that solder joint were to fail for any number of reasons...dirty cable, plated cable, wrong solder, wrong flux, not enough heat, too much heat, ..even impurities introduced by the burning wood....there is a high probablity of injury or even death...over a $6 cable !

I'm not normally an alarmist and lord knows I have taken my share of risks...but that's one I would not take.....

Talk about opening yourself up to a lawsuit...that guy is out of his mind posting that video.
 
#9
Just to point something out here...that's a cool trick for keeping the end of a cable from fraying...or maybe forming the end of a throttle cable that is an odd ball and unobtainable....but not in a million years would I use that method to form the ball or barrel end of a brake cable!

Unless I'm mistaken, professionally made cables have the ends swaged on under tons of force in a special mold....they are not soldered on.

If that solder joint were to fail for any number of reasons...dirty cable, plated cable, wrong solder, wrong flux, not enough heat, too much heat, ..even impurities introduced by the burning wood....there is a high probablity of injury or even death...over a $6 cable !

I'm not normally an alarmist and lord knows I have taken my share of risks...but that's one I would not take.....

Talk about opening yourself up to a lawsuit...that guy is out of his mind posting that video.
I agree with you there. A brake cable is only 4 bucks. I couldn't find a throttle cable to match up to my mikuni carb so that's why I posted it. On the other hand even if I did decide to make a brake cable end aaaand it did break...... I have a scrub brake as back up. :thumbsup:

Cheers
Mike
 
#10
With all the mods we are doing to these minibikes, anything we modify could break and cause injury, death, or liability issues. Especially with some of us riding them well over the designed speed and weight ratings.

This is just one more option.

I have used a similar method for bicycle brake cables and one throttle cable without issue. My minis have hydro brakes.
 

george3

Active Member
#13
Just to point something out here...that's a cool trick for keeping the end of a cable from fraying...or maybe forming the end of a throttle cable that is an odd ball and unobtainable....but not in a million years would I use that method to form the ball or barrel end of a brake cable!

Unless I'm mistaken, professionally made cables have the ends swaged on under tons of force in a special mold....they are not soldered on.

If that solder joint were to fail for any number of reasons...dirty cable, plated cable, wrong solder, wrong flux, not enough heat, too much heat, ..even impurities introduced by the burning wood....there is a high probablity of injury or even death...over a $6 cable !

I'm not normally an alarmist and lord knows I have taken my share of risks...but that's one I would not take.....

Talk about opening yourself up to a lawsuit...that guy is out of his mind posting that video.
I am with you on that one for sure. 6 bucks or less for a good brake cable why bother making a cheap, much weaker copy. fast bike, cheap brake cable I dont think so. I do make my own throttle cables but not like his. Is the wood still burning? lol.
 
#15
Everyone's a critic ya know. If you like the info use it.. if you don't then don't!

It’s not really about being a critic….it’s about monitoring the type of info that gets put forth on the forum and being responsible about it.

Some folks might take it as gospel that it’s a good idea or perfectly safe just because they read it on here.
 
#16
It’s not really about being a critic….it’s about monitoring the type of info that gets put forth on the forum and being responsible about it.

Some folks might take it as gospel that it’s a good idea or perfectly safe just because they read it on here.
I've typed responses to this twice, and didn't post them because I didn't want to ruffle any feathers by being too critical.

There are some errors in the video, and some of it's just dangerous. I don't blow torch wood in my garage. A few months ago, I watched the neighbor's garage burn down, along with his vintage vette. $hit can and does happen, and I keep things as safe as I can.

Having said that, another error was the assumption that "electrical solder" is flux cored. It can be, but many of us aviation electricians never used the stuff, opting for a tin of paste (resin only to minimize corrosion) and solid core solder with a 60/40 lead/tin ratio, not pure lead as he did in the video.

Also, instead of digging through grandpa's garage for pure lead solder, (some of us here are grandpa's) it's far simpler to hit the sporting goods section and buy some split shot fishing weights.

If doing Mikuni ends, it's easier and better to get some brass tube (I forgot the diameter I used) and solder the cable to it. Note above when I mentioned resin flux for electrical connections, acid flux (used for plumbing) is better.

The purpose of the flux of course is to etch the metal. I don't know why he filled the wood hole with the flux in the video, unless he was concerned about flow.

He mentioned silver solder too. It's available in several different metal ratios and the melt temps vary accordingly. A butane torch is not adequate for some of it, however a propane torch with it's 3000 degrees works.

The video was interesting, and informative and provides alternative methods for doing up throttle cables, but I'll stick with my own crappy methods, and hopefully not burn any wood, garage, house, or Dodge RT's, or mini bikes in my garage.
 
#17
It’s not really about being a critic….it’s about monitoring the type of info that gets put forth on the forum and being responsible about it.

Some folks might take it as gospel that it’s a good idea or perfectly safe just because they read it on here.

I'm assuming when people click on the thread title that says "Mikuni Carb throttle cable end trick from you tube" they're not coming in here to learn about brake cable ends. To be honest I didn't even watch enough of the video to get to the brake cable portion. I put the info there because I was in need of a way to put an end on a throttle cable and it works. I'm assuming that if people have the technical skill to build mini bikes in general then they can modify this info to suit their needs. If "some folks" take anything they read on the internet as gospel well then they're going to have a rough go at life.
 
#18
Cut the guy some slack, I thought is was very interesting. Great way to put a ball at the end of a throttle cable for a mukuni carb.
I doubt he will posting any helpful post with a response like this???:shrug:
 
#19
I've typed responses to this twice, and didn't post them because I didn't want to ruffle any feathers by being too critical.

There are some errors in the video, and some of it's just dangerous. I don't blow torch wood in my garage. A few months ago, I watched the neighbor's garage burn down, along with his vintage vette. $hit can and does happen, and I keep things as safe as I can.

Having said that, another error was the assumption that "electrical solder" is flux cored. It can be, but many of us aviation electricians never used the stuff, opting for a tin of paste (resin only to minimize corrosion) and solid core solder with a 60/40 lead/tin ratio, not pure lead as he did in the video.

Also, instead of digging through grandpa's garage for pure lead solder, (some of us here are grandpa's) it's far simpler to hit the sporting goods section and buy some split shot fishing weights.

If doing Mikuni ends, it's easier and better to get some brass tube (I forgot the diameter I used) and solder the cable to it. Note above when I mentioned resin flux for electrical connections, acid flux (used for plumbing) is better.

The purpose of the flux of course is to etch the metal. I don't know why he filled the wood hole with the flux in the video, unless he was concerned about flow.

He mentioned silver solder too. It's available in several different metal ratios and the melt temps vary accordingly. A butane torch is not adequate for some of it, however a propane torch with it's 3000 degrees works.

The video was interesting, and informative and provides alternative methods for doing up throttle cables, but I'll stick with my own crappy methods, and hopefully not burn any wood, garage, house, or Dodge RT's, or mini bikes in my garage.
This is a good example of constructive criticism. Next time you have a mikuni carb open I'd like to see what you mean by using the copper pipe. I tried the split shot method but when ever I pushed the cable in it would move the melted shot out of the way. I could never get it to stick to the cable. The wood keeps the molten metal in place till it cools. I agree that burning the wood in the garage is idiotic but it doesn't have to be in the garage.
 
#20
Cut the guy some slack, I thought is was very interesting. Great way to put a ball at the end of a throttle cable for a mukuni carb.
I doubt he will posting any helpful post with a response like this???:shrug:
I was just thinking... this is the last time I'm going to try and help anyone out. :laugh:
 
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