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'69 standard Beetle here. I have been trying to install new heater cables since I got my chassis back from the powder coater. I am trying to install the rearward ones that control the heat exchanger. The right one goes in fine, but the left one gets to a point about where the tunnel meets the trans horn (for lack of better terminology). Does anyone have any ideas how to open up the tube so I can run the cable?
Thanks in advance.
John
Take some round rod that will fit inside the tube, flatten one end and hook it to a drill and have at it. The tubes usually build up with junk at the bend where they come out. Good luck
burrhead
OOPS my brain(what's left) is faster than my fingers.
If the flat rod fits you I heard there is a blue pill for you to take to alleviate that problem. LOL
Last edited by burrhead (2009-03-26 06:51:27)
No need to get personal Bur. But you called him flat rod?
he did, he did....he called him flat rod........
Yancey
All insults aside, I had been poking around with a straightened coat hanger but didn't think to hook it up to a drill. Thanks for that, burrhead.
John
And there's nothing wrong with my rod, thankyouverymuch. 
Yeah been there done that No Rod or Flat rod <<<< Can get stuck you stupid >>>. Bunch of Badd Foul Language ending in How the Blank did you manage that ! As in Im not Blankin stupid it's how, you blankin told me to do it ???
Well I didnt tell you to lett it get stuck So on and so Forth etc etc. Arghhhhhhhhh Ending in Ohhh we are so Blanked !!! It's never commin out of there !! LMAO
Fresh not rusted Heater cable Snipp end's off use the wire part Lott's of WD - 40 Even lett it soak over night !!
From horn end or rear I keep pokeing it with the Wire back and forth !
Realize that it is not Plugged but rather rusted the tube closed as in more WD-40 and work at it !! Back and forth usin the wire like a Hammer drill ! Even snippin the end off few time's to keep it as sharp as possible !!
Ohh and the Heater cable tube we got the Coat hanger stuck in ??? It's still in there ! I actually pulled on it so hard it snapped the coat hanger wire off inside it !!
So ?????? Long story short ! Dont have some else do it ! It can get stuck !! As in 3 frikin day's later your still workin on it !
Most are not this badd !!
But few of Um are the Complete pull your hair out , No ,No , No , I cant blankin beleive it what'd ya mean it's stuck ! What the blank did you do !
Section by the horn alway's seems to be where they rust shut !
Also gett it freed up Squirt Carb spray down it with the Car Jacked up in the front or rear ! Usually the front so all the rust can run out or it will just re- harden again ! As in blow out with air etc. etc.
Then Pack both end's with grease from a grease gun ! This will seal it from moisture some what and keep the cable from disinergrateing inside the tube and rustin shut again !
What'd ya Mean it's Stuck ???? LMAO I have so been there done that !
I mean it's blankin stuck !! LMAO Frikin Hillarious ! You gotta be kiddin me !
Realize it could be brokin heater cable that has rusted the tube shut !
Sean
You need something flexible to get into the bends of the tube. If you have a 2 foot length of speedometer cable, or clutch cable you can chuch it up in a drill and run it through the tube. You can get a short length of 1/8" cable at the local hardware store. If all else fails, snap off the curved tube where it's welded to the floor and replace it with a length of 1/4" steel brake line.
When I do get it opened up I was thinking the same thing as Sean said, fill the whole tube with grease so water can't get in. I'm going to do the same with the accelerator and clutch tubes... unless someone can think of a reason not to. Would it ever get hot enough in the tunnel to liquefy the grease and leak out?
John
Nah tunnel dont heat up !
But Totally under stand here that the end of the heater cable is a Lil Rod !
This short Rod may be stuck in the Narrow bend with the heater cable brokin off and removed say 20 year's ago or so !
So this Lil short peice of rod that is typically attached to the end of the heater cable may still be in there ???
Best I could figure On Mr. Scatty boo's car was that he twisted the coat hanger up inside the tube and it twisted along the side of the Rod peice that was brokin off inside and rusted to adhere inside the tube !
Add coat hanger twisting it went past this peice then wouldnt come back past it ??
In other word's it can get stuck !! So be carefull !!
Like I said
I use Old Heater cable in good shape and sharpen the end ! I then runn it up the tube and just keep jabbin it like a drill hammer twistin a lil but Simultaneously checkin that it isnt stuck !
In other word's dont stick somethin up in there and just start twistin round and round and round !
It will Worm drive, or cork screw past Brokin wire or brokin Heater cable end inside the tube and then you cant pull it out ??
Hopefully your's is just blocked with rust << If that's the case should come un plugged fairly easy !
But Just really kinda pay attention what your doin cause you can get in trouble quick !
As to the rest of the tubes Yeah good Idea too clean them up also !
Watch the Clutch tube !
Clutch tube is anchored with 3 Welds one by Pedal assembly another behind front seat and then another under rear seat where the cover plate is !
Typically these weld's can and quite often pop loose !
Sean
I use an old hand brake or clutch cable, run it thru with the drill in reverse so it wont unwind. Once it's thru I reverse the drill and run at full speed while pulling it out. This puffs up the cable pretty well and cleans the tune out nicely.
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