OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines How to repair throttle cable?

Hi, I have lots of spare throttle cables but the "stay" that holds them in the controllers are invariably broken like the one in the photo. Is there any way of repairing these? I have tried to use a rivet head after removing the mandrel but that didn't last long. Does anyone have any secret they'd like to share.

G'day sparker, I am the same and normally fix them up as I go. Never thought of using a pop rivet head, but since you mentioned it I will try it tomorrow.

I will try a rivet head that will fit over the outer of the cable, I will remove the plastic a bit and crimp it down with a hex crimper. Something to try.

Well gents, you both have half of the piece of the puzzle.
I normally re-use the same mandrel but "open it back up" by pushing it over an appropriately sized screwdriver so it slides back over the cable. I then use a hex crimper to lock it back down.

Thanks guys. I don't have a hex crimper so I use a vice or my electrical connector crimper. That doesn't work so well so I also drive a cut pin through the cable cover and rivet head. That worked but it was a lot of stuffing around.

A 6mm pop rivet will give you a new mandrel if you need one.

I am out of them. I knew it was a big one but couldn't remember the size.

A flaring tool also works but just use the lockng jaw part, like the one below. Given how thin the original mandrel is there's more than enough pressure generated from this to crimp the mandrel back over the cable.
Don't mind the photo, i hijacked it from google.

That's good thinking bigted, it hadn't occurred to me. I don't think it would make much impression on a pop rivet, but it avoids the severe overkill a hex crimper or multi-jaw crimper would be for the original Briggs ferrule.

Yes. Nice one. I'll have to get a crimper or flaring tool as this cable problem is common for recycled mowers.

Edit: I just had a look on Ebay and a flaring tool is about $19 and goes down to 3/16". Would that be small enough? A hex crimper is $27. They didn't say what the sizes are but from the photo it would do the job.

Hi to All,
That's what I like about this forum, you learn new things every day!

Yep, 3/16 equates to 4.8mm and should do nicely.

Cool. Thanks Bigted

Nicely illustrated Mark.