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Re: (ET) Cable for snow thrower chute directional control

Hi Dean,

that sounds like good advice.  Thank you.
I have used the hand-twist trick. I have refinished the chute turning surface and lubricated heavily. It doesn't get to live in a garage, heated or otherwise. Just a weatherproof cover. 

Darryl McMahon

On 11/17/2022 6:04 PM, Dean Stuckmann wrote:

Hi,
I went to a heavier cable because of breaking the stock one. Take the tube or a dowel or a piece of PVC pipe that is about the same dia to your local hardware store and try to wrap the the heaviest cable you can around the tube and go with that. Try a few different stores because some cables are more flexible than others. It also helps to keep the chute well lubricated to minimize rust. If yours is not kept in a heated garage, make sure its not frozen by twisting the chute with your hands (instead of the crank) before you use it. https://www.myelec-traks.com/gez-5139.pdf <https://www.myelec-traks.com/gez-5139.pdf> 

Regards,

Dean Stuckmann
5432 County Road U
Newton, WI 53063-9624

920-901-2288
On Nov 17, 2022, at 4:11 PM, Darryl McMahon <darryl econogics com <mailto:darryl econogics com>> wrote:
From the image in the manual, I'm guessing 1/16" cable.  Does that sound right to others, or is it 3/32 or 1/8? 

Darryl

On 11/17/2022 5:01 PM, Darryl McMahon wrote:
OK, I'll look for some aircraft cable tomorrow.  And the tiny crimp on barrels. I did find the manual for a different model snow thrower (courtesy of George Beckett's treasure trove - thanks yet again to George.) https://myelec-traks.com/GEZ-243A4616.pdf <https://myelec-traks.com/GEZ-243A4616.pdf> 
It shows the cable winding scheme on page 4.
Darryl
On 11/17/2022 4:29 PM, Rob Brockway wrote:
I don’t remember the details of how it was wound but I do recall it was a thin aircraft cable.  I never had a problem with it breaking on my elec-trak snow thrower. 


Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 17, 2022, at 12:40 PM, Darryl McMahon <darryl econogics com <mailto:darryl econogics com>> wrote:
Our first snow has arrived, and the E12 with plow is ready for service. Unfortunately, as I was testing the E15 with 42" snow thrower, the wire cable for controlling the chute direction broke. I have gone through this exercise too many times, and getting the winding on the tube right always seems to escape me. 

So, 2 questions:
1) What is the preferred material for the cable?  I have not yet tried the coated clothesline route - I expect the coating will fail in the deep cold of winter here.  Rope frays (but it's what I have handy when it's cold and dark.
2) Is there a simple trick to getting the winding on the tube right?  Is 3 turns on each side of the center hole sufficient? (assumes chute is centered for installation) 

Thanks for any guidance.

--
Darryl McMahon
Freelance Project Manager (sustainable systems)

Do not mistake patience for weakness, nor action for strategy.

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--
Darryl McMahon
Freelance Project Manager (sustainable systems)

Do not mistake patience for weakness, nor action for strategy.

_______________________________________________
Elec-trak mailing list
Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu <mailto:Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak <https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak> 



--
Darryl McMahon
Freelance Project Manager (sustainable systems)

Do not mistake patience for weakness, nor action for strategy.