The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Clam Shell Retractors

Didn't want to hijack the clam shell vs barn door thread but need help. I have a 49 burb w/ clam shell and the retractors are broken. ( Wire is hanging out) I haven't gotten around to pulling them apart yet but can anyone tell me where to buy new cable, retractor parts, etc? I haven't seen any in the various vendor books. Thanks.

no need to get new parts just open up the trim panel and get old retractor out the problem is probably with the coupler to retracting tape rivit it has probably riped through the tape. drill out the rivit which holds the spool housing together and get tape out from spool and fold end over the coupling and rerivit the tape to the cable then re rivit the spool housing (its like a tape mesurer) or use a stop nut and bolt as spool axel.

Thanks for the information. Both of the cables are broken that hold the bottom half. Any idea where to buy new ones?

I'm going to guess that it's standard steel cable. Try Grainger or McMaster Carr.

Any farm store or tractor supply will have cable Weeds

Probably even in stainless.

good info

Whoa there! It is not so simple as going to the store and buying cable. Danchuk sells retractors, which work perfectly, but the cables were several inches too short for my '58. The cable is reverse wound, not your everyday cable, but suppliers will have it. The balls on the door-end need to be swaged also,which requires a special tool.

I ended up sending the retractors to a fella out east who specializes in nos cable. He replaced the new retractor cable with nos, and reswaged the balls on the door end. Perfect fit!!

Please provide details, vendor name, location etc. That's what makes these posts useful. Pictures if you have them! Thanks

when i called Danchuk to ask about there retractors and cables for the wagen(wanted to use them on my burb) i was told that control cable??,, in santa fe springs cali supplies them and will make them with the ball end at any length. i just never checked back on that to conferm.

I had extensive discussions with Danchuk regarding their cable supplier. I was given the name and number with the promise I would not disclose their identity. It was not Control cable in California , the international company was located on the other coast. I contacted them to inquire about an order, and they requested the original OEM part #(GM 4662647). Their minimum order was in the thousands, which did not make economic sense to me. Maybe they now use somebody else?

I then ordered the danchuk cables http://www.danchuk.com/ItemForm.aspx?item=221,
which are too short for a "58 burb, and shipped them to Mike Faust at Obsolete American Auto parts.He utilized the clevis portion of the cable, used nos reverse wound cable, and swaged the ball end and shipped them back to me. I provided my original cables for exact measurement. Mike's phone # is 814-244-0398.

Danchuk also sells the retractors and the tailgate balls and covers, which appear to be the same. Hope this info helps.

Mark

sorry ,, i was just posting what i was told when i called and spoke to them about it.

Don't be sorry, every bit of information we can get helps us all. Why not follow up on the information and maybe you and others can cut out the middlemen and get what we need without modification?