Topic: learning to solder cables.

[mcpuffett]

ok fellas, usually if i have a cable snap i take it to a friend of mine who has a motorcycle business and get him to either repair my old cable or make me a new one, he is away at the moment and my clutch cable has snapped  , so i plan on learning how to do it myself  , i have done soldering before on electrical connections with an electric soldering iron but never a cable, i have a blow torch some universal solder , do i also need some flux to clean the end of the cable and also give me a better joint?,  any help would be appreciated    mick.

[oldbiker]

Since the inner cable is toughened, you will need a flux with acid content. Ordinary electrical flux can work but is not the best. Be sure to clean off all residue once the job is done.

[mcpuffett]

thanks john, the solder i have is lead free/acid core for general purpose, B&Q finest, i will nip and get some flux and have a bash tonight ,      mick.

[Jonesy]

Back at the mower shop I used to work at they had a cable soldering kit. It had an assortment of brass endpieces and an electric heated pot filled with solder. You'd plug it in and wait for it to heat up fully. In the meantime you clean the pieces to be soldered, coat them with flux and them dip them into the molten solder pot. It was a nice little setup. Not sure where you'd buy one, though...

[mcpuffett]

hi jonesy, i have seen them on the net when i have been searching for info, they look nice n easy ,   mick.

[mcpuffett]

ok, did about 20 miles last night with my repaired cable and all's well no failures  , so if anyone needs a cable soldering send em to me , chers for your help ,  mick.