EMPI reverse lockout broke

[takotruckin]

I have an EMPI Hurst Style trigger lockout shifter that broke the wire for the reverse lockout. I remember something about replacing it with piano wire maybe? My google-fu is failing me and all I have been able to find was one person that said a G string from a guitar may work. Anyone know for sure? Stainless safety wire doesn't appear stiff or strong enough.

[Marc]

Anything here relevant? viewtopic.php?f=18&t=32160

I'd never heard of the guitar-string fix, but you made me curious. Is this the thread you remember? http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/archiv ... 595--.html

[takotruckin]

Anything here relevant? viewtopic.php?f=18&t=32160

I'd never heard of the guitar-string fix, but you made me curious. Is this the thread you remember? http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/archiv ... 595--.html

Nothing relevant in the first link. The second one is indeed the one mention I found of guitar string.

Only other thing I have found is a whole lot of people complaining about these shifters...
I drilled out the rivets and replaced them with nuts and bolts before I even installed it, and it has been a good shifter for many years until the reverse lockout broke.

[BAJA-IT]

I used piano wire to fix the one I have in the race car. It was a pain to do though, but only took an hour or so to do.

[takotruckin]

I tried the local music store, they didn't have anything that would work and gave me the number of a piano guy who was hard to get a hold of. I finally ordered a roll of .039" piano wire from Amazon, and fixed my shifter the other night. Works good as new now. I now have about 59 feet of wire, so if anyone needs any, shoot me an address and I will send a couple feet.

[Leatherneck]

What note, piano wire, that is important for the final HP numbers

[dustymojave]

That puts a new twist on "tuning" your Baja.

"You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish."

Don't remember who that quote is from, probably Frank Zappa. Seems it was the title of an album.

[Marc]

What note, piano wire, that is important for the final HP numbers

It doesn't take 88 different-thickness wires to string a piano, but sizes range from .006-.112". Unlike AWG sizes, a higher number denotes a thicker wire. Any high-carbon drawn-steel wire that meets the ATSM A228 spec may be called "piano wire".
#15 (.035") is a good size to have around for general-purpose use.

[cbeck]

That album title is from reo speedwagon., 78 or 79.

[Marc]

"In 2005, the album cover was featured in Pitchfork Media's list of 'The Worst Record Covers of All Time', and in 2014 its title was featured in NME's list of 'The 50 Worst Album Titles in History'." Had it been a Zappa title, it probably would've been lauded as incredibly clever

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can_T ... _Tuna_Fish

[BAJA-IT]

I tried the local music store, they didn't have anything that would work and gave me the number of a piano guy who was hard to get a hold of. I finally ordered a roll of .039" piano wire from Amazon, and fixed my shifter the other night. Works good as new now. I now have about 59 feet of wire, so if anyone needs any, shoot me an address and I will send a couple feet.

Try the local Hobbie Shop, piano wire is used to link servos to the control surfaces on RC airplanes.

[madmitch]

I've learned a lot more than I used to know after reading this topic