Cable Guide
It is the fixing part that holds the Bowden sheath along its intended routing and prevents it from running crosswise or rubbing against hot or moving parts. Cable guides are supplied together with black hook-and-loop straps in the GS740-3P set. Correct guiding is the cheapest measure that reduces friction-induced hysteresis and cable wear.
The guide's job is to preserve the sheath's radius. A sheath left free swings as the engine vibrates and over time finds the tightest angle by itself; at that point the inner wire binds. A sheath fixed at regular intervals, on the other hand, keeps the wide radius it was designed for.
Three rules work when fixing it:
- Do not let the sheath touch the exhaust manifold, the turbo or hot pipe runs; even radiant heat hardens the liner.
- Stay outside the swept area of moving parts (belt, fan, joint).
- Tighten the straps only enough not to crush the sheath; the advantage of the hook-and-loop strap is precisely that it limits the force.
The guides are also a reference point for maintenance. If you find a guide loose during a periodic check, it means that in that area both the cable friction and the chance of the calibration drifting have increased.
Context in which this term is used: Electronic speed and throttle control on a diesel engine