Saving Old Seagulls

Now here is something that has probably been asked before .. I wish to use my trusty 4.5HP silver century as an auxiliary on a small runabout of length 13 feet - but I need the ability to control the throttle from up front. This would mean a cable of around 3 meters. I have seen "extra" long cables of around 1.8 - 2.5 metres but still a bit short. I envisage some sort of small choke lever up front to move back and forth, somewhat like a ride-on mower (huh ?) sounds scratchy .. but has anyone investigated this possibility ? Theoretically should work ... could get one made up ?

Boot release cable from an early Mazda/Ford from the wreckers. Very good cable iner steel cable has a nylon lining.

Never tried it but what about a long length of curtain rail with a stainless inner wire, but maybe I`m being daft.

Most cycle shops sell brake/gear cable from a reel, buy what you need.

If you search previous posts you will find several methods to attach the ends, failing that askthe bike shop.

I was making some custom cables but I don't think that the inner wire could be so long. The outer could be any length.
If you like I could ask the guy I was buying the parts. Suitable only for amal carbs or for villiers fitted an amal lever and some modifications to the wire end.

Great .. thanks for the tips .. found the topic line "102 flies again" and some good stuff. Looks like the standard bicycle Bowden cable option is the best way to go - if I can get the bike shop to sell in lengths. I hear they can close ranks on that depending where you go. The curtain rod wire suggestion is superb ! That would work too wouldnt it ?

I bought some just outside the entrance to the shopping centre in Henderson about 5 years ago & I've bought it in Taupo as well, so you'll get it easy in the Southern hemisphere, but do pick the inner & outer that slides with the least friction as there's not a lot of pull in the throttle return spring.

Thanks.. So maybe go with a thinner guage inner stainless wire in a standard outer covering ? and lube it well ? .. I will try the standard guage inner first and see how it goes. I read that one of the race chaps said he used a bicycle brake lever for a throttle lever (for safety) - good idea. Might not suit my needs but in order to put my Seagull throttle lever away complete and not use it , I might try a similar thing and try a bicycle derailleur lever up front.

There's a special "cable oil" for bicylce brakes and gear shifts that is fully synthetic and I think has silicone in it.

It's like *super lube*....amazing stuff, but NOT cheap. Can't remember the brand but my old man used ot use it on his recumbent trike's extra long gear shift cables.