The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 53 Burb Clam Shell Cable System

Other crazies like me! I'm having problems with the cables and winders on the bottom clamshell door of my Burb. I don't have a Body Manual so not sure about the "RIGHT" way to attack the problem. I would like to remove and rebuild the winders and replace the cables. Would like to know how to dissamble and then reassemble and adjust.The cables are very stiff and not as flexible as I feel they should be. They will self retract to about 3/4 closed and I then have to feed the cable to avoid kinking and then slowly finish closing. Any info or a web site that might address the issue would be appreciated.

This is the only documentation I have seen about the end-gate cable.

The article refers to a figure 41, Do you have that figure (pic) also?
Thanks, Herb

007, Welcome to the best site on the net for these ol trucks.
Ive heard,but havent tried, that the cables and retractors from the 55,6,and 57 chev. stationwagons will work with a little "cobbling". You could probably get a catalog for those years of cars and put your imagineering to work and come up with something. The parts for the 'burbs arent being repro'd,as far as i know, so that may be your only way out. The retractor looks like a tape measure that they forgot to put the numbers on........
Good Luck,
Marty

Herb,

Look at the bottom of that page - click "Previous Page". The whole manual is on-line (thanks to Keith Hardy).

Tim

well if you decide to fix what you have let us know, i just picked me up a pair of reels and would like to do the same on them.

I'll let you know! Probably won't get into it for a couple of weeks.
Herb

Thanks to all the other crazies out there for the info. I'll post my progress.

007, the reels you are referring to, what do they look like? I bought a '49 Sub several years ago and ther was a bucket of small mechanical pieces that I cannot recognize. There are numerous arms and hinge looking items.I also have some kind of strange looking tailigth thing too; the only one i've ever seen is on a post here: I must be crazy to restore a 47-53 Suburban, its the light sticking up on the roof. Any help identifying these parts would be helpful. I'll try to post pictures.

To All Crazies,
I plan to get into the cable and reel system this week and with the help of my wife's computer savvy, hope I can post some pics. Standby, Patience, Prayers!!!
Later, Herb

If pics are needed, I have a 50 gmc sub with a clamshell set up. I can try to shoot whatever pics are needed and email to the interested parties.

Sorry I am so late into the discussion.

Hey,
Thanks for the offer. I plan to take mine apart later this week and hope make any needed repairs and or adjustments and put everything back togather and hopefully operating properly. If I run into any surprises, I may have to ask for some guidance.
Later, Herb

Wrench Fetcher, I'd be interested in seeing the pics you'll shoot.

all

please add me to the list of needing pictures of a rebuild. I have a 49 that cables are missing. Maybe a great tech tip selection for anyone who has done this.

me too mine need help.

I haven't shot any pics yet, but let me know the specifics you guys are looking for and I can attempt to post some.

si47gmc

I need a shot of how retractors fit to side channel. If you or anyone has shots of rebuilding the retractor/cables it would be great. I guess the more the better.

My '58 Suburban needed retractors and cables for the clamshell, and the Danchuk items worked perfectly. I posted this site before, but for convenience, here it is again.

http://danchuk.com/ItemForm.aspx?it...ory=28aa64e3-4730-48dc-ba25-f59a84e844fa

I've got one broken retractor as well. The other one is in tact and working. I am going to be pulling my body off this weekend. I'll take a few shots and post them on the post where I have been keeping updates.

Anyone interested in information about obtaining a 47-54 end-gate cable and/or information on how to fabricate a retractor, please send me a Private Message (or email me).

At the Macungie, PA ATCA show last weekend I spoke with a person with a beautifully restored 1950 Chevrolet Suburban. He knows where to get cables and how to make a retractor.

Tim

I am responding to an old post regarding the repair of the tape reels for a Carryall - any and all information on how well the repair worked will be appreciated. Mine were apparently repaired, but poorly. I'd like to get a really good fix implemented.

Thank you all in advance (no pun intended)

Me too I need for 49'

From what I heard, the cable system from the Chevy Nomad is similar - and can be -purchased as a new part and used in the burbs. From what I remember, the cable end is not the same us the Suburban but it can be modified. Not sure where the Nomad parts can be found - but I suspect a little vendor research will yield them.

And yes, I am monitoring this message string as my retractors are fried too.

I posted this information on June 4, 2009. Danchuk provided everything, and, while the cables are too long(They fit the Nomad), they can be shortened and the end reswaged.

Mark.

So is it true that the Danchuk retractors are the correct length (internal tape) to make a satisfactory replacement for the "impossible-to-find" stock tape retractors?

I called them, they did not understand that the application could be used on burbs as well. could have been that the guy on the phone did not know.

Thank you

They worked just fine for me.

I also remember a thread on here which discussed the Pullman Corporation retractors for double hung windows were a good match.

Just type in Pullman in the Panels & Burbs search function.



Regards, Mark.

I bought the Danchuck approx 3-4 yrs ago and have had no issues. I don't remember if I had to shorten the cable or not.

Thanks, 49bourbon.

If anyone else uses the Danchuck unit, please post your experience/adaptation here.

Thank you, All - sounds like these just might work -

Best Regards -

Good News - just contacted the Pullman MFG company in Rochester, NY. www.pullmanmfg.com/standard.html.

Their part number 6-A was the OEM equipment on the Chevrolet Clamshell Suburban. He knew all about the application for Chevy suburban; and said that it is common to get a request for an old Chevy, since they are all wearing out. He said that they supplied the original parts. And if you look at the pictures, they are exactly what is in the suburban.

For part# 6-A, cost is $28.75, 10 day lead time - they are made on demand. Check out the website - this is the solution to the retractor failure issue. I'm replacing both of mine.

Best Regards and thank you so much for the information!

Thanks for this tip riverdancer9.

Your link and post may best be sent to the Links or Tech Tip section on this website. Tim? do you agree?

tom

riverdancer,

Thanks for the post.

As tom posted, a Tech Tip on replacing the cable reel would be nice. Take a lot of photos and write down dos/don'ts. If you do not want to write-up a Tech Tip, let people here know - someone might help you do the write-up, if you take photos of each dismantling and replacement step.

Good luck,

Hi folks - I will get this worked- will take about a month - would it be a Word document? Or a video?

Thanx!

Both would be nice.

Thanks,

Hi I'm adding myself, need the same for 49' Burb