Re: 51Packards....52 Packard 200 Deluxe!

Posted by HH56 On 2016/9/11 18:02:48

Be careful in trying to free the OD cable as too much force on the knob can cause the cable to separate from the end of the dash bracket. The pre 51 assy has a crimped section and the split that usually happens when the cable comes loose can be repaired by a shaft collar. Not sure if the later ones have enough of a crimped area to hold a collar.

The inner wire and outer housing are both steel so the wire can rust to the housing in one instance. The sliding clevis rod and outer sleeve at the OD end are also steel and can rust together. Some have had undercoating or road tar get on the rod and in the sleeve and cause issues.

I freed a couple of them by coiling the cables in a fairly tight circle which forces the outer core wire wrap to open slightly. Then sprayed with penetrating oil which could work inside the slightly opened coils. Coiled the other way to open that side and did it again. Hung it on the garage wall OD end up so as to periodically place a few drops of penetrating oil in the sleeve end and let it run down the inner wire. Took a while but freed up nicely.

If you have a large enough pan and enough liquid you could also coil and soak it in solvent or something like evapo rust.