Front brake cable holder

[Air-Cooled]

I'm trying to find a wire/grommet cable holder for my V7 Sport (pic below is not my bike), and it appears OEM is not available. eBay has no used ones at this time either.  I did find a source that sells a similar one for old BMWs.  Does anyone here know if this might work, or even better, know of a source for an OEM pair?  Used is fine.

[matt franklin]

I think It's the same p/n as the loop frames:: 55 43 65 25.   You could probably make one pretty easily.  I think the big challenge would be to find the rubber grommet that fits into the wire loop.

[AJ Huff]

Not the same, but an option.

https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=373

-AJ

[Air-Cooled]

Not the same, but an option.

https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=373

-AJ

Don't want to drill the fender.

[Air-Cooled]

I think It's the same p/n as the loop frames:: 55 43 65 25.   You could probably make one pretty easily.  I think the big challenge would be to find the rubber grommet that fits into the wire loop.

I believe that all of the Ambassadors or Eldorado's had the all rubber guide that requires fender drilling (not 100% sure on that). Rubber grommets come in many many sizes so I don't think that would be a problem.  I don't think I'd be very good at making a wire one, especially since I don't have an original to pattern it from.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I believe that all of the Ambassadors or Eldorado's had the all rubber guide that requires fender drilling (not 100% sure on that). Rubber grommets come in many many sizes so I don't think that would be a problem.  I don't think I'd be very good at making a wire one, especially since I don't have an original to pattern it from.

I've never seen a V700, Ambo or Eldo with that rubber guide from the factory. Every one I've seen has had the metal loop with grommet inside.

[Air-Cooled]

Thanks for the info Antietam!  I owned a police Eldo for a few years and it had the all-rubber ones. I guess I'll just keep checking eBay and maybe try out the BMW ones.

[73 sport]

      The front brake cable/hose holder on V7 Sports was welded to the fender braces, not a separate item.

[Air-Cooled]

      The front brake cable/hose holder on V7 Sports was welded to the fender braces, not a separate item.

There is no weld mark on my fender bracket and the V7 parts list does not show this.  I've never seen the cable holder welded to any V7 Sport, but maybe I just haven't seen one yet.

[cliffrod]

These two looms on my bike are actually each bolted to fender.    It’s a simple piece of stainless wire with a small loop on one end  for fender bolt and a larger loop on the other end for the brake cable.  Not very complicated.  This loom is sandwiched between the rear brace and fender on each side.  They can appear to be welded to the brace but are not.  Maybe earlier bikes had welded looms on brace, but my 73 doesn’t.

[jcctx]

I you just want functionality, couple of zip ties work a treat!!!

[73 sport]

       I've worked on five separate V7 Sports '73 & '74 vintage, each one had the cable/hose holder welded to the fender brace. This may be another example of changes during the model year.

[Air-Cooled]

I you just want functionality, couple of zip ties work a treat!!!

I want more than functionality. The V7 Sport is a work of art.

[Air-Cooled]

These two looms on my bike are actually each bolted to fender.    It’s a simple piece of stainless wire with a small loop on one end  for fender bolt and a larger loop on the other end for the brake cable.  Not very complicated.  This loom is sandwiched between the rear brace and fender on each side.  They can appear to be welded to the brace but are not.  Maybe earlier bikes had welded looms on brace, but my 73 doesn’t.

Thanks, that's sort of what I thought based on photos. I'm gonna order a couple of these, and I bet they will look and work just like the OEM.

[cliffrod]

Thanks, that's sort of what I thought based on photos. I'm gonna order a couple of these, and I bet they will look and work just like the OEM.

Those look pretty close and can probably be easily tweaked into a different orientation if needed.  They don’t appear to be a special, complicated or proprietary design.

Glad to share pics of mine if it will help.. 

[Air-Cooled]

Those look pretty close and can probably be easily tweaked into a different orientation if needed.  They don’t appear to be a special, complicated or proprietary design.

Glad to share pics of mine if it will help..

Yes, please do!  Thx

[cliffrod]

Yes, please do!  Thx

Here’s a few of my old dirty bike.  Hope they help. Looks like the loom is on outside of fender brace on fender-brace-loom-washer assembly order-

[Air-Cooled]

Thanks so much for the photos cliffrod!  If I need to shape it myself from straight stock wire I'll use this tool:

[Canuck750]

This was how my 1973 V7 Sport was equipped, the cable guides were on the fenders when I bought the 'project', these loops with a rubber grommet are fastened to the fender / fender brackets with 6 mm nuts and bolts. Was it stock? I can't be certain but they were on the bike when I bought it.

[Air-Cooled]

Canuck750, thanks for the great photo.  Hopefully mine will look like this in a week or so when I have all the right parts.

[Air-Cooled]

First attempts at creating cable holders, thanks to the photos from others in this thread.  The wires in front were my first attempt at it until I realized I needed a torch to better bend and recreate what the photos showed.  Damn, that 2.5mm stainless "wire" is hard to bend, even when glowing red hot.  I'm out of town, so I should have them on the V7 Sport next week for further tweaking.

[cliffrod]

In general, Stainless steel work hardens very quickly if it can be worked at all.  Plan your bends well to produce the desired form or  shape with the least amount of moves.

[Air-Cooled]

Yes, I had to do exactly as you said -- plan my bends carefully ahead of time as the stainless is very hard to form, even when red hot from a torch.  The torch helps, but it is still difficult.  The ones with the rubber grommets above were my final rendition, and even they may have to be shortened a little, but they came out well with nice round circles.  Shortening them up a quarter inch (if needed) will not be too bad.  I'll get it red hot and roll up the bigger loop.

[Air-Cooled]

Project is completed!






auto pic

[mrrick]

So did the $2.95 parts work after all?

[Air-Cooled]

So did the $2.95 parts work after all?

No, they were much smaller in size than the photo made it look.  I had to use 2.5mm stainless wire, bailing pliers, a small vise, and a torch.

[cliffrod]

Those parts look great.  Most people will be hard pressed to recognize they are homemade and not original looms, especially if your bike isn’t parked next to another V7 Sport with an original set for comparison.  Even then, minor variation in pieces like these on many Italian bikes is more common than not.  Very cool.

[Air-Cooled]

Thanks!  I based them off your photos which were invaluable.

[cliffrod]

Glad I could help. 

[Air-Cooled]

Glad I could help.

BTW, I grew up in Vermont too.