At 11:36 PM 2/12/2013, neil n wrote:
>The Westfalia OEM cable (looks like galvanized metal?) has 19 strands.
>The cable I used is 7 x 19 stainless meant for pulleys and what not.
>
>The OEM cable feels stiffer but I don't know if that means it's better
>or worse than the stainless stuff for that application.

1x19 is less expensive and a lot stiffer than 7x19.  On a boat it
would be used for standing rigging, and 7x19 for running
rigging.  Size for size I suspect it's a bit stronger.  In the sizes
I'm accustomed to (standing rigging on a 32 foot, 12,000 lb boat) the
comfortable bending radius is maybe a foot and a half or more.  I'm
surprised they'd use 1x19 for the bend around the bracket knee, but
it's a pretty good radius for skinny wire -- so long as they got the
attachment correct so the wire won't be preferentially bent
there.  That's clearly not the only place they went the cheap route
in designing that joint.  I'm looking at you, hinge bearing -->
https://picasaweb.google.com/117189706757545167023/VanagonPopTopHingeTroubles?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Yrs,
d