Can't find new choke cables...

[JODON]

Hi all, I need to replace my choke cables, '74 R75/6, and I can't seem to find a new set, I've checked all the usual spots, Hucky, Eurotech, Bing etc.
Any thoughts?

 

[20774]

Motobins in Europe? Bob's BMW; MaxBMW; The Beemershop, Vech at Benchmark Works?

What about salvage yards like Airhead Salvage - http://www.airheadsalvage.com

BTW...what's wrong with the choke cables? I can't remember anytime when someone has needed to replace these...

 

[jforgo]

From MAX BMW fiche:

13231255976 CHOKE CABLE LEFT (from 01/71) 0.08 1 $12.29
13231255977 CHOKE CABLE RIGHT (from 01/71) 0.12 1 $12.29

should be local dealer order item

 

[JODON]

Thanks guys I'll take the part number to a dealership...
The steel spring like coil which houses the wire has stretched and a kink has developed which with increasing frequency causes said housing to jump out of the nipple and turn the choke on...
Plus the plastic cover is cracked and showing the now rusting coils and is just plain yucky...

 

[20774]

Here's another thought...I've seen people take the spring wire and cut it, leaving the end at the carb connected. At the other end of the spring wire, make a loop big enough to get your finger in and a bit higher than the carb. That way, you reach down and pull on the loops to engage the choke...push down when not needed. Kind of a throw back to "tickling" your carbs.

 

[melville]

Ooh! Too much fun! Here's a write-up I did on choke cable replacement:

Stock, my bike had a remote choke lever, which is actually still on the motor, just behind the rider's left knee. It pulls a coupla cables which terminate at a pinch bolt on each carburetor, like this one:

Now a pinch bolt is something quite familiar to me from my past life as a bicycle mechanic. As the cables needed replacement anyway, I wondered about how I might make the choke controls special or distinctive. I remember one guy on the old Boxerworks forum, probably Chuey, had made some out of old bicycle spokes. I have plenty of those! Here's 32 of them, only 20,000 miles:

Now the first battle is to make a handle, one that I can operate mit moto gloves on:

Then, to make it lollipop shaped:

Now it was time to make the loop solid. I tried some of the limited hot metal methods available to me, and none of them would take:

So I ended up getting some 1/8 SS .028 wall tube and making crimps out of it, reinforced with mucho JB Weld:

Drawing it down:

And all done:

And mounted, with moto glove test:

Couple words to the wise--you need to find a skinny spoke. I used a 1.8mm or 15 gauge spoke. Skinnier would be better. If buying a new spoke for this purpose, ask for the longest DT Revolution spoke available and cut off the butted (thicker) ends.

Spokes might be as much as $2 apiece for Revolutions these days. My hardware store SS tube was $2.69 IIRC.

 

[paultavilla]

I just purchased both new choke cables for my 75/6 last week from my local BMW dealer in San Antonio. Also, A&S BMW lists both as available on their parts fiche.
Are you trying to avoid your local dealer?

 

[AntonLargiader]

+1. How does "All the usual places" not include a BMW dealer?!?!

"I'm trying to buy a gallon of milk and none of my nearby auto parts stores have one. Can anyone help?"

 

[20774]

+1. How does "All the usual places" not include a BMW dealer?!?!

"I'm trying to buy a gallon of milk and none of my nearby auto parts stores have one. Can anyone help?"

Well, said!

 

[JODON]

Thanks again all, and yes, I am in fact trying to avoid my dealer, many in my area know wassup... I'll say no more...

 

[20774]

Thanks again all, and yes, I am in fact trying to avoid my dealer, many in my area know wassup... I'll say no more...

I guess since we don't know where you are, it's a little hard to understand your dilemma. No biggee...as long as you find something that works.

 

[88bmwjeff]

Thanks again all, and yes, I am in fact trying to avoid my dealer, many in my area know wassup... I'll say no more...

I'm sorry your local dealer is not that great, but I wouldn't write off all dealers. Just ask around here and I'm sure you'll find a good one to order from.

 

[b25bsaboy]

Ooh! Too much fun! Here's a write-up I did on choke cable replacement:

Stock, my bike had a remote choke lever, which is actually still on the motor, just behind the rider's left knee. It pulls a coupla cables which terminate at a pinch bolt on each carburetor, like this one:

Now a pinch bolt is something quite familiar to me from my past life as a bicycle mechanic. As the cables needed replacement anyway, I wondered about how I might make the choke controls special or distinctive. I remember one guy on the old Boxerworks forum, probably Chuey, had made some out of old bicycle spokes. I have plenty of those! Here's 32 of them, only 20,000 miles:

Now the first battle is to make a handle, one that I can operate mit moto gloves on:

Then, to make it lollipop shaped:

Now it was time to make the loop solid. I tried some of the limited hot metal methods available to me, and none of them would take:

So I ended up getting some 1/8 SS .028 wall tube and making crimps out of it, reinforced with mucho JB Weld:

Drawing it down:

And all done:

And mounted, with moto glove test:

Couple words to the wise--you need to find a skinny spoke. I used a 1.8mm or 15 gauge spoke. Skinnier would be better. If buying a new spoke for this purpose, ask for the longest DT Revolution spoke available and cut off the butted (thicker) ends.

Spokes might be as much as $2 apiece for Revolutions these days. My hardware store SS tube was $2.69 IIRC.

Melville,

I had to read and look at the pictures four times to understand where you were coming from with now as I see a brilliant idea. I like the simplicity utilizing the used spokes. If the spokes were stainless, silver solder would have worked fine, but not steel cad plated ones. I like people who are innovated.

Crackers to you!

 

[melville]

Melville,

I had to read and look at the pictures four times to understand where you were coming from with now as I see a brilliant idea. I like the simplicity utilizing the used spokes. If the spokes were stainless, silver solder would have worked fine, but not steel cad plated ones. I like people who are innovated.

Crackers to you!

Indeed, SS spokes. Chuey (my inspiration) told me later that he used silver solder for his. I'm not quite equipped for that, and my various plumbing and electronic hot metal resources weren't quite doing it. Maybe the next set....

 

[lmo1131]

... but not steel cad plated ones....

That's what emery cloth is for. Once the "cad" is gone carbon steel silver-solders just fine ... with a good boron flux ... and enough heat.

Course, once that plating is gone, you're going to have rusty choke wires.

 

[krpntr]

cables

Bicycle cables and motorcycle cables are almost the same. They are not hard to make up your own. I recently bought the wrong throttle cable for my Honda CM91 and it was an easy task to cut down the too long replacement cable and install it in the old cable sheath. I soldered a new end on that was an exact copy of the original end. I saw a tutorial on you tube; tried it, and it worked. I used a camp stove for the heat and small sheet of folded, creased copper for the heat transfer. The solder has to be the no-flux type used for electronic work. I would explain, but if you are interested, you can watch the process on you-tube under shorten motorcycle cables: But I gotta say, I like the spoke loop method a lot.

Matt

 

[airraceaddict]

http://www.eubmw.com/Cables.html
Not sure if your issue is fixed. I found my left choke cable, (and many other OEM replacement stuff) here.

 

[rapiddog]

http://www.eurotechmotorsports.com/

 

[lmo1131]

In the Handlebar section; $8.40 each

Caveat Emptor! Just make damned sure you want what you order.. .. his return policy is a b....