We've found that the Parking Brake Assembly Cable on all 3 recently purchased and really abused/neglected 750A's now residing in my garage have suffered from worn/frayed cable "ends" (within the right foot peg mount) rendering them prone to failure at anytime. With this assembly an essential component of the 750A, we (my retired neighbor Jim and I) found through trial and many errors(!) that cable replacement is possible and renders the cable as good and functional as new when completed.
1. Disconnect the PB (Parking Brake) mounting bracket (topside) securing the PB "push button& knob" to the frame/air cleaner (you'll eventually remove the entire PB cable assembly for ease of access during cable replacement).
2. Remove the PB cover located on the right foot peg assembly and snip the frayed cable with diagonal cutting pliers.
3. Unscrew the PB cable adjuster off the right foot peg mount and remove the entire PB cable assembly.
4. With the PB cable assembly on the workbench, depress the PB button and remove the button and cable.
5. Slide the cable out of the push button assembly. NOTE: the cable end has a small "ball" that allows the cable to exit through a grooved portion of the bottom of the push button assembly that retains the cable in the push button assembly.
HELPFUL HINT: I had an old cable laying around that we planned to use as a replacement. To get a "ball" on the end, we drilled a BB (!!!!) and planned on soldering it onto the old cable. NEVER HAPPENED because every time I heated the old cable in preparation for soldering on the "ball/BB", the heat would cause old grease/cable lube to appear on the cable rendering any attempt to solder impossible.
6. Purchased a NEW cable ($17) from our local M/C shop with a "ball" already installed on one end and about 5' long. We had to make the "ball" smaller to fit and we carefully filed it down to fit into the button assembly.
7. Install the new cable in the push button assembly and thread the new cable and push button assembly into the PB knob and into the PB cable housing.
8. Pull the new cable from the PB assembly end (right foot peg mount) tight with the PB knob and button flush to the topside PB cable mount (normal PB disengaged position).
9. VERY IMPORTANT: Install a new cable "stop" (My terminology...it is a small bar with a hole drilled in the middle and available at most good M/C repair shops for about 75 cents) EXACTLY 1" from the end of the PB adjuster fitting. Solder the cable stop on the new cable, snip off the excess cable and the PB cable replacement job is almost finally finished!!! The cable "stop" we used is 3/8" wide and would not fit through brake adjuster hole on the right foot peg mount (about 5/16th wide) so we had to carefully file off equal amounts on both ends of the "stop" to fit through the access prior to hooking the stop to the ratcheting lever.
LESSONS LEARNED:
-Use new cable!
-1976 PB cable assembly is unique and will not fit 1977 or 1978. 1976 PB cable is shorter and adjuster screw-in port is smaller although 1976 PB Assembly has some "swappable" internal parts.
-Snipping spiral wrapped M/C cables with diagonal cutting pliers almost always leaves frayed/barbed ends. MATCO has "cable cutting pliers" specifically designed for cutting wrapped cables and leaves a "clean" end. I borrowed a pair and they worked great for snipping off the excess cable!
Hope this helps others that may want to replace their PB cables!
