Talk:Bowden cable

message: Is it accurate to say that the cable can be used to transmit a pushing force?  I'm unfamiliar with the camera mechanism used as an example, but for the bicycle shifter the derailleur spring is always pulling on the cable, so a "push" on the shifter is really just a relaxation of a counter-pull. Ross Hatton 17:31, 20 August 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I have used a camera shutter release that uses a 'push' motion with such a cable.  However, in working on many, many models of bikes I have never come across one that uses a 'push' cable.  I think this reference was either incorrect or very obscure (either way it shouldn't be in the article) so I have removed it. -SCEhardT 02:50, 19 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: "Pushing"

message: Citation for Bowden cables in small aircraft: Diamond DA40D AFM (Manual)  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.115.54.116 (talk) 18:58, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Small Aircraft

message: The "chunks of metal" on the end of a Bowden cable which engage with the mechanism it operates are called nipples. If you do not believe me try googling for such things as bicycle brake cable nipple or bowden cable nipple. My use of the word is not prurient vandalism, it is the standard term for those objects. Indeed the same word is used to describe other similarly-shaped engineering items, such as grease nipples for applying grease and bleed nipples for bleeding hydraulic systems. It is unfortunate that this term lends itself to schoolboy sniggering but it is nevertheless the correct word for these items. Please do not revert my edits because you are unaware of this. 213.162.113.17 (talk) 01:21, 16 November 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: I went ahead and googled it, and indeed it pulled up some hits.  However I've never heard it used before (Is it perhaps British English?) and the one solid reference I have found (Barnet's) prefers "head".  If no reference are put up I would propose changing it to "head", and if a good reference is found I'd like to put the both up.--Keithonearth (talk) 07:09, 16 November 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: The wiktionary definition covers it - item 6 is the relevant one. It may be a British term, perhaps; google.co.uk is in no doubt, and the term has been used in patent applications (example) and parts catalogues (example). There is also a German word Kabelnippel = "cable nipple". It does seem hard to find a "dictionary" style reference but evidence that it is a thoroughly accepted term is abundant. 213.162.113.17 (talk) 04:52, 6 December 2008 (UTC)

text: 'Nipple' in this context (and the others quoted) is universal and correct usage in the UK (eg hydraulic brake bleed nipples)
89.168.85.120 (talk) 19:04, 12 June 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Nipples 

message: There's an interesting paragraph in Bicycle braking systems that discusses potential failure modes and maintenance requirements of Bowden cables.  IMO it is much more applicable here so I'm going to move it here.  Not sure about the new section title, though.  Suggestions? Dmforcier (talk) 17:28, 15 June 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Adding new section 'Maintenance' 

message: The introductory section includes this (emphasis mine): "...a hollow outer cable housing. The housing is generally of composite construction, consisting of a helical steel wire, ...". 
This is too specific.  Helical housing bodies are used for many modern low compressibility cables, but there are other types of construction, notably a bundle of untwisted solid wires running parallel to the inner cable, sandwiched between a lining and the outer sheath.  And of course there are solid housings. 
I recommend that any specificity be deferred to the section on housings in the body of the article. Dmforcier (talk) 17:55, 15 June 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Issue with definition 

message: The 'parts and variations' section seems quite awkward, especially the section on 'ends'. The paragraphs seem to be a combination of bicycle and motor-vehicle information, with no separation between the two. As an experienced bicycle mechanic, I am familiar with much of the information, and admit my ignorance of the rest; however, the presentation of the information in this section is confusing. Also, the phrase "silver soldering" is inaccurate, more appropriately it is termed "silver brazing". 65.19.217.117 (talk) 18:18, 11 September 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  'Parts and Variations' section 

message: I have a 1950's toy helicopter which is powered by cranking a handle on a hand held unit, which is connected to the helicopter by a flexible 'cable' which transmits the rotation of the crank to the helicopter rotor. Due to the subtlety possible in varying the power it is possible to make the helicopter take off, hover, fly backwards and forwards (by twisting the hand held unit) and land - it really is great fun.
The 'cable' consists of a stationary solid core wire, threaded through a spirally wound wire (like a long spring) WHICH ROTATES. ie it is the exact reverse of the Bowden Cable description in the article - it is the outer sheath that transmits the power and the inner that remains stationary. I get the impression this could transmit quite a lot of power, more than the spedometer cable version. Perhaps this variation is more widespread than my helicopter and ought to be mentioned?
89.168.85.120 (talk) 19:00, 12 June 2011 (UTC)
thread_title: The reverse construction

message: Have I missed something? Were E.M. Bowden and F. Bowden related in any way, or is the surname just a coincidence?  PhilUK (talk) 20:44, 23 January 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  Bowdens 

message: The section with the heading "Possible contribution by Larkin" doesn't appear to actually add anything to the article itself.  That's not to say that it isn't a curious historical footnote, but as the text itself states, the claim about Larkin supposedly inventing the cable mechanism is inaccurate. It is unlikely that anyone today still believes that claim, or is even still aware of its original existence, so I cannot think of any justification for its inclusion. Indeed, a Google search of "'bowden cable' + larkin" returns 44,000 hits, but "'bowden cable' + larkin -wikipedia" returns only 340, which strongly suggests that the only remembrance of Larkin's competing claim, is here, which gets dangerously close to original research. Bricology (talk) 18:32, 13 April 2019 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Possible contribution by Larkin" section