Can't move forward/reverse lever on Skytrak 6000M

[dsaw]

I've had this machine a bit over a year and it's basically ran fine the whole time. Looks like it was rebuilt then parked. Only real work on it was repressuring the brake accumulator. The forward/neutral/reverse lever has always been really stiff if it sits for a month or more. I usually just use it in my yard. However, I took it out on the road (and over lots of snow) a few days ago for about a 3 mile drive. Everything worked fine, but I accidently left it in reverse when I parked it. When I went back to start it the next day, I can't get it out of reverse. If I really push the handle up, I can get it into the neutral position, but I think I'm just stretching the cable, it doesn't feel like anything is trying to move on the other end. It won't start because it still thinks it's in reverse. It's been below freezing all week, so it might have gotten some water in the cable housing driving through the snow? It gets above freezing tomorrow, so I'm hoping that's what it is. Any other ideas?

 

[Guyfang]

@dsaw , please change your location to the state you live in. Thanks.

 

[dsaw]

It was just a frozen cable. I left it jammed in Neutral, and it popped out on it's own when it briefly got above freezing. That said, it refroze so I can't move it until it get's above freezing hopefully tomorrow. It'll start now, but the frozen spot must not be near anything that warms up. The cables appear to be have hard plastic casings on the outside, so can't really heat them with a torch. I need to find a way to get some alcohol in them to dry up the water.

 

[Ray70]

I've got a Lull 6K Highlander II that used to have the same issue. I tried everything, even made up a couple split aluminum blocks with grease fittings to sandwich around the cables ( after removing a small section of casing ) thinking maybe I could force grease inside the cable, but no luck. I believe there is another teflon liner inside the steel braided jacket.
After several years of frozen cable issues, the only solution was to have new cables made up. I could no find new cables, so I used a place that made custom push-pull control cables. They made new cables to my specs. for a little over $100 each if I recall.
Problem solved.

 

[Coug]

It was just a frozen cable. I left it jammed in Neutral, and it popped out on it's own when it briefly got above freezing. That said, it refroze so I can't move it until it get's above freezing hopefully tomorrow. It'll start now, but the frozen spot must not be near anything that warms up. The cables appear to be have hard plastic casings on the outside, so can't really heat them with a torch. I need to find a way to get some alcohol in them to dry up the water.

I remember reading in the VW forums about the e-brake cable freezing and locking the brakes on, and a few people recommended using antifreeze in the cable as a lubricant. Main purpose of that since it is water soluble, if any water does seep in, it mixes with the anti-freeze to prevent this issue. Also has additives to help prevent corrosion.