Cabin vent control cable attachment - what does yours look like?

[Vance Harral]

Attached are two photos showing where the cabin air vent cable attaches to the slider plate that opens/closes the vent, in our 1976 M20F.

 

Closing the vent requires pushing the cable.  As the photos show, our cable flexes a lot when the vent is pushed closed, because the clamp at the end of the cable housing isn't attached to anything but the housing itself.  When it's cold and things get "sticky", sometimes the slider plate doesn't close when the cable is pushed in.

 

I'm pretty sure this isn't how the system was designed, and that we're missing a bracket or something.  The cable runs next to a huge bundle of wires, and I'm guessing it was R&R'd during some past avionics or electrical work, and not reassembled properly.  Unfortunately, our parts manual doesn't detail this attach point, so it's a bit of a mystery how it's supposed to go together.  Anyone out there with a 1976-ish vintage C/E/F/J who can take a picture and show/explain what it's supposed to look like?

[Marauder]

I have a 75F. Which well was the picture taken. Might be able to get out too the airport later this week.

[Vance Harral]

I have a 75F. Which well was the picture taken. Might be able to get out too the airport later this week.

 

Thanks, Maurader.  All this apparatus is on the co-pilot's side.  The heating/ventilation reference page in my M20F parts manual says "1975 and on", so yours is theoretically identical to ours.

[Vance Harral]

One bump in the hopes of scaring up a volunteer for pics.  Maurader, any luck?

[Andy95W]

That ain't right. Disconnect the clamp and remove the cable. Reinstall with the clamp facing left, not right, and try it that way.

[Vance Harral]

That ain't right. Disconnect the clamp and remove the cable. Reinstall with the clamp facing left, not right, and try it that way.

 

That might work if the clamp in question was connected to anything other than the cable housing itself.  It's not, i.e. it's useless as installed, regardless of how it might be repositioned or reoriented.  My guess is it's supposed to be attached to "something", and I'm trying to figure out what that "something" is.  Again, the parts manual unfortunately doesn't detail the cable installation.

[Andy95W]

Curious! It was hard to tell what it was connected to- or not connected to- and I didn't look at it hard enough.

As I'm sure you know, it should be a nice, straight run from cable end to attachment along the line of movement. The clamp above it, which is co-clamped to the tube structure (engine mount?), should be loosened and manipulated to provide a straight run and smooth movement. If that isn't good enough, I would consider removing the small black cushion clamp that is currently anchoring the cable housing and connect the currently unused clamp in its place. You can then use your fingers to straighten the wire end to get the proper length.

It looks like someone was a little sloppy/lazy when they put it back together. Probably just needs someone to take their time with it and do it right.

The old manuals were written with the assumption that mechanics had common sense and would use "acceptable methods, practices, and techniques" when working on airplanes. It matters less how it is "supposed" to be, and more that it works properly and doesn't interfere with any other components in its vicinity.

[jetdriven]

1977 J is the same. I replaced the cable insert with an aircraft spruce unit but left the cable jacket in place. It was new enough and stuff enough that after lubing the slider it would close it if the cable was pushed slowly.

I also adjusted that clamp to get a straighter run at the slider.

[Vance Harral]

1977 J is the same.

 

Including the "clamp to nothing" at the end of the housing?  If so, that's really odd.  Maybe that clamp just keeps the end of the housing from unraveling?