Where can I get some mechanical cable?

KC10Chief · 11-09-2007, 07:17 PM

Does anybody know where I can get some mechanical cable? That's the best way I know how to describe it. It's like what you would see on a bicycle. A cable that runs through a stiff plastic sleeve. What I'm wanting to do, is make myself a lock for my front door. I'm going to cut a hole in the front of the bus just forward of the door. I'm going to install a lockable door over the hole. I'll be able to unlock the small door and inside, I'll have a handle attached to the cable which I can pull and unlatch my door. It should be pretty simple to set up and not many people would notice it or realize what it's for. Anyways, I don't know where to start looking for a cable like that. I'd like for the hard sleeve to have a couple nuts on each end so I could fasten it down that way. Any ideas?

bdavis441 · 11-09-2007, 07:57 PM

I'd start at a bicycle shop, then go to a custom motorcycle shop. Good luck!

phillbus914 · 11-09-2007, 08:39 PM

Instead of making a lock for my front door I made one for the back door. That way you can latch the front door from the inside and go out the back and lock it.

I know this doesn't answer your question, but I thought I'd share what I did to lock my bus.

Oh yeah here's a picture of my lock. It's the red piece of angle iron bolted to the door, there's a hole drilled through that and the door handle, when it's latched I can put a paddle lock through it.

behappystupi · 11-09-2007, 08:40 PM

Go to Wal-Mart! I recently saw a package for Bicycles like that. Not sure how much it had in it but it was $3.99.

GoneCamping · 11-09-2007, 08:42 PM

Most heavy truck service shops either have it, or know where to get it..... at least certain lengths of it. They use for for PTO (Power Take-Off) cable etc, up to 10-12' long I would guess. The best place to look would be Truck Drive-Line specialist shops, as they tend to cater to the type of trucks that utilize PTO's... Not sure what those places would be called where you are, but here we have Tidewater Fleet Supply, Gregory's Fleet Supply, and Standard Parts Driveline...

lapeer20m · 11-09-2007, 09:54 PM

lawn/garden service centers will also have choke/throttle cables

i've also seen choke cables at autozone labeled by the "HELP!" brand for pretty cheap.

KC10Chief · 11-09-2007, 10:55 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I don't want to have to get into my bus through the back. The way I'm going to set it up, the king size bed is going to be against the back door. I'll be able to open the back door and get to my electrical stuff that I'll have under the bed. I would still be able to get into the bus that way if I really needed to. I'm going to set up a lockable back door too, but I am definitely not going to use a padlock on my bus. That's the kind of thing that could get somebody killed if there was a fire. I want to be able to get into my bus with keys, and get out of it without keys. Just like a house. I'll check into some of the suggestions you guys had though. Thanks!

phillbus914 · 11-09-2007, 11:58 PM

I'm confused here... how would a paddle lock kill someone in a fire? I guess if you paddle locked back door with people inside the bus... That's not what I meant. I only use mine when I lock the bus (with noone inside... obviously) in the same instance I would lock my car... going into a store ect..

Anyway I know it was off topic, I was just throwing other ideas out there to lock up your bus.

KC10Chief · 11-10-2007, 08:32 AM

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I saw a picture on here one time where somebody used some sort of deadbolt lock to lock their back door. You needed a key from the outside, and you could unlock it by hand from the inside. Anyways, most places, I wouldn't worry about locking my bus while I'm sleeping inside. But If I'm camping somewhere like a Wal-Mart parking lot, I'd like to be locked in. But if you were sleeping inside and couldn't get out because your back door was padlocked, that would be a pretty dumb way to die I think!

phillbus914 · 11-10-2007, 08:59 AM

There is a simple way to use the same paddle lock inside the bus which locks it from the outside and you don't need a key to remove the lock. I'd have to take a few pictures for ya to see what I'm talkin about, but this really doesn't sound like what your looking for anyway, so I wont get into that.

Sorry for the massive thread drift...

lapeer20m · 11-10-2007, 10:15 AM

i don't like Phill very much. When camping next to his bus I've thought about padlocking his back door shut so he couldn't get out and lighting his bus on fire, but i decided that there is too much paperwork involved.

Griff · 11-10-2007, 11:28 AM

Do you mean cable like I used here?:
http://www.thewhiteelephantstale.com/frtdoor.html

If so, I got mine at the local farm & garden supply store, they called it coated aircraft cable, but I'm sure it goes by other names, too. Any reputable hardware store will carry it in at least 2 - 3 different diameters from 1/8" diameter up.

KC10Chief · 11-10-2007, 11:35 AM

No, I mean the type of cable that slides inside the sleeve. Like a bicycle cable or clutch or throttle cable. I've got some ideas. I'm going to go shop around when I get a chance!

Griff · 11-10-2007, 06:04 PM

Sorry, I misunderstood. . .Like Jason said, about any small engine (lawnmower) shop should have that in stock, and sell it by the foot in lengths up to about 25 feet. It's available through any Oregon / SilverStreak aftermarket parts dealer. I'll see if I can scare up a part number for you (might not be until Monday, though).

Griff · 11-13-2007, 07:25 AM

Here are those Oregon throttle cable part #'s:

3/16" x 50' long outer housing (coated inside & outside) = Oregon part # 74-317

.054" x 50' long inner wire (solid, not stranded) = Oregon part # 74-054
.072" x 50' long inner wire (solid, not stranded) = Oregon part # 74-072

Sorry for the delay, hope this helps.

wtom24 · 11-15-2007, 12:28 PM

The cable assembly you are looking for is called "push/pull cable assembly". McMaster Carr has a large assortment of diameters and lenghths. Just bought some for a crawler/loader I am rebuilding.

phillbus914 · 05-23-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillbus914

There is a simple way to use the same paddle lock inside the bus which locks it from the outside and you don't need a key to remove the lock. I'd have to take a few pictures for ya to see what I'm talkin about

I finally got around to shooting a video of my rear door lock set up. Here it is if anyone wants to see how it works. It's simple and cheap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiXqQzoxXqc

oldog12 · 05-24-2008, 04:58 PM

I think the cable might be the same as Morris or Morse cable.... no?

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