Bowden cable component supplier?

[Cato]

I used to use Marshalls but they seem to have closed now. So can anyone recommend a supplier for Bowden cable components? Venhill seem to do the fittings but not the inner and outer cables unless they're in kits. I'm after a source for decent quality inner and outer cable, and if possible the fittings from the same place.

If it could be from a place that has a bloke in a brown cow gown pulling open labelled hardwood drawers to select the bits that would be a bonus.

 

[mtt.tr]

Venhills are my go to

Motorcycle Control Cable Fittings and Components | Venhill

Venhill offer a full range of control cable fittings and components. Venhill will also make up a control cable to your requirements

www.venhill.co.uk

Conduit and inner listed


Give them a call, I used to buy a fair about from them

 

[Cato]

Venhills are my go to

Motorcycle Control Cable Fittings and Components | Venhill

Venhill offer a full range of control cable fittings and components. Venhill will also make up a control cable to your requirements

www.venhill.co.uk

Conduit and inner listed


Give them a call, I used to buy a fair about from them

Thanks, I couldn't find the cable and outer on their own.

 

[8ob]

If it could be from a place that has a bloke in a brown cow gown pulling open labelled hardwood drawers to select the bits that would be a bonus.

Venhills used to be like that many years ago, the shop used to be like the one in the two Ronnies four candles sketch. Its all a bit high tech these days with a posh shop,pooters and online sales going on.

Bob

 

[Cato]

Venhills used to be like that many years ago, the shop used to be like the one in the two Ronnies four candles sketch. Its all a bit high tech these days with a posh shop,pooters and online sales going on.

Bob

There was a hardware shop on Ball Hill in Coventry that I used to go into with my Dad, Trinder & Lawrence. They wore the cow gowns and had the drawers behind the counter. As a kid it seemed like there was nothing you could ask for that they didn't have. They worked it like a proper double act

"Four 1 1/4" BA bolts, a tap washer please Mr Trinder. I'll get the 1/8" shims."
"Coming right up Mr Lawrence."

Aside from the nostalgia I always feel chuffed to have been around at such a time, and little sorry for those who missed it.

 

[merryman]

Carrot Cycles Lincoln. https://www.carrotcycles.co.uk/control-cable-parts-and-accessories/cable-casing-conduit-.html I haven't used their cable but do buy cable fittings from them.

Control cables are an absolute nightmare, with choices of normal inner cable, plastic coated inner, or stainless. Outers can be just a spiral of steel, or plastic coated or plastic lined inside and out. I have no idea which works best, nor does anyone else as far as I can see.

 

[Nick67GT]

Always found this company helpful in the past:

Wicks & Martin, Bespoke cable manufacturer, UK made products based Bromyard, Herefordshire.

At Wicks & Martin we offer a range of different size wires, outer conduits and a variety of components to suit many different requirements based Bromyard, Herefordshire.

www.wicksandmartin.co.uk

 

[Cato]

Carrot Cycles Lincoln. https://www.carrotcycles.co.uk/control-cable-parts-and-accessories/cable-casing-conduit-.html I haven't used their cable but do buy cable fittings from them.

Control cables are an absolute nightmare, with choices of normal inner cable, plastic coated inner, or stainless. Outers can be just a spiral of steel, or plastic coated or plastic lined inside and out. I have no idea which works best, nor does anyone else as far as I can see.

I've always viewed it as horses for courses. So 90% will be normal steel inner with plastic coated outer. The other options are more about where it's going to be used, and very few cables will need the sort of corrosion protection that stainless or interior plastic coatings provide.

 

[8ob]

Venhills sell a workshop kit, it’s got all the ends, inners,outers in various sizes. Very useful albeit a bit spendy, it’s saved the day on many occasions.

Bob

 

[Cato]

Venhills sell a workshop kit, it’s got all the ends, inners,outers in various sizes. Very useful albeit a bit spendy, it’s saved the day on many occasions.

Bob

I bought one years ago from Marshalls and I need to get another now. You're right they are expensive in one hit, but the time and money they save over a period make them quite cheap. They also have the benefit of generating work as being able to make a throttle/brake/control cable for some obscure doo-dah really goes down well.

 

[8ob]

I bought one years ago from Marshalls and I need to get another now. You're right they are expensive in one hit, but the time and money they save over a period make them quite cheap. They also have the benefit of generating work as being able to make a throttle/brake/control cable for some obscure doo-dah really goes down well.

Brown bros used to supply a cable repair kit for the RAC vans, they were also very comprehensive but unfortunately they were swallowed up by a bigger factors. @Moose McAlpine may know who currently supplies the emergency services with their kit.

Bob

 

[8ob]

The Venhill kit

 

[nickk]

I’ve had good service with postage,from Speedy cables,Abercrave,01639 732213.

 

[Bornfree]

I remember reading an interview of David Brown after he started AWD trucks he said " here at AWD we know a lot about throttle cables, in fact we know so much about them that we don't use them"

 

[Mick Annick]

There was a hardware shop on Ball Hill in Coventry that I used to go into with my Dad, Trinder & Lawrence. They wore the cow gowns and had the drawers behind the counter. As a kid it seemed like there was nothing you could ask for that they didn't have. They worked it like a proper double act

"Four 1 1/4" BA bolts, a tap washer please Mr Trinder. I'll get the 1/8" shims."
"Coming right up Mr Lawrence."

Aside from the nostalgia I always feel chuffed to have been around at such a time, and little sorry for those who missed it.

Sounds like the old Vale-Onslow shop on the Stratford Road

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Brown bros used to supply a cable repair kit for the RAC vans, they were also very comprehensive but unfortunately they were swallowed up by a bigger factors. @Moose McAlpine may know who currently supplies the emergency services with their kit.

Bob

We don't carry cable kits any more. At the AA we had small individual cables available from GSF/Allparts, but it was only the inner cable, not the sheath. They were labelled as motorbike clutch cable repair kits.

The RAC don't issue or carry any cable repair kits.

I used to have an old AA-issue cable repair kit with various size cables, ends, etc for bike and car clutch and throttle cables, but gave it away as never used it.

This is the only supplier i know of off-hand for bowden cables:

Control Cables And Fittings

www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk

They will sell every component individually.

 

[Cato]

Sounds like the old Vale-Onslow shop on the Stratford Road

Yeah, although without the accompanying noises as he rummaged through the parts out the back. After a few visits he just used to let you through yourself, used to be in and out of there quite a bit back in the day. I have a reciept from Vale Onslow for that '58 Enfield Bullet when it was sold by them in '87 to a bloke from Sutton Coldfield for £700.

 

[xmetal]

Sounds like the old Vale-Onslow shop on the Stratford Road

I spent many a Saturday morning in the 70's waiting in the queue to be served.

I used to make my own cables up and solder on the ferrules. Not done it for ages but it will be interesting to know a source.

 

[Cato]

I spent many a Saturday morning in the 70's waiting in the queue to be served.

I used to make my own cables up and solder on the ferrules. Not done it for ages but it will be interesting to know a source.

Like small engineering shops, small 'proper' spares places which also provide information and advice have all but disappeared now sadly.

I haven't needed to do any for a while now, but I will and I also need to make some up for the Magnat. As @8ob said, it's a chunk to layout in one go but they do get used so I'll bite the bullet and get the stuff from Venhill. I'll no doubt be doing a few for customers as I change over to more workshop based activities. Similar story for TimeSerts, expensive to buy and too dear to set up for a one off, but if you have a few to do, or are charging for doing them they make sense.