Buyer summary
What to prepare before an RFQ
- Use this guide to separate housing length, exposed inner cable length and working stroke before requesting a custom Bowden cable.
- Prepare inner cable and housing diameters, terminal photos, routing notes and the reference points used for each measurement.
- A drawing, used sample or clear machine photos can help confirm the cable structure when a standard size name is not available.
- Submit an RFQ after the movement function, installation interfaces, quantity and packaging basis are clear.
Common mistakes
Details that often cause RFQ rework
Sending only an overall length without showing housing length or stroke.
Measuring a worn or bent casing without noting that the sample has changed shape.
Photographing the cable body but not the casing ends, adjusters or mating terminals.
Using inner cable diameter as the finished outside diameter of a coated or housed cable.
Choosing an end fitting before checking the equipment-side mounting interface.
Buyer Summary
Bowden cable sizes are easier to review when the buyer separates the cable body, housing and movement requirements. A request that says only “custom Bowden cable” may still leave the supplier unsure about housing length, exposed inner cable, stroke, casing ends and equipment-side terminals. This guide provides a practical measurement route for buyers comparing a replacement cable or preparing a new drawing-based control cable request.
What Bowden Cable Size Means
Bowden cable size is not one number. It is a group of dimensions describing the inner cable, the outer housing and the completed assembly. The most useful starting points are overall assembly length, housing length, inner cable diameter, housing outside diameter, exposed inner cable length and working stroke. If a cable has a coating, lining, ferrule or end cap, note whether the measurement is taken over the metal, the housing or the finished outside surface.
Buyers comparing a Bowden Cable Assembly with a broader Control & Brake Cables requirement should also explain the function. A brake, throttle, latch, choke or machine actuator may use a similar cable structure but a different stroke, route or terminal arrangement.
Housing Length vs Inner Cable Length
Housing length describes the casing section that guides the inner cable. Overall length normally includes the cable assembly and its end reference points. Exposed inner cable length describes the portion that extends beyond the housing at one or both ends. These measurements should not be merged into one number because a correct route can still fail if the exposed section or terminal position is wrong.
When measuring a removed cable, lay it as straight as the construction allows and record the reference point at each end. If the casing has compressed, stretched or bent, note that condition. A simple sketch can show the housing ends, exposed sections, terminals and the measurement line used for overall length. This is often more useful than a product name alone.
Inner Cable Diameter and Housing Diameter
Inner cable diameter and housing outside diameter serve different purposes. The inner cable relates to the moving element, while the housing outside diameter affects routing space, clamps, guides and mounting holes. If the cable passes through a bracket or guide, photograph that interface and provide the available clearance when it is known.
The finished outside diameter may differ from the bare metal or inner cable diameter because the assembly can include a housing, coating or protective layer. State which surface was measured. If the buyer does not know the casing or lining material, clear photos of the cable body and casing ends can start the discussion without inserting an unconfirmed material into the RFQ.
Stroke and Routing Considerations
Stroke is the working travel of the inner cable between two positions. Record the neutral position and the two working positions if the equipment allows it. Also explain whether the cable operates in a pull-only, push-pull or other routed control function. For a push-pull requirement, compare the Push Pull Control Cable page and provide the mounting points, housing length and movement direction.
Routing information should show bends, clamps, bulkhead fittings, guide points and the equipment-side connection. A route photo can reveal why a nominally similar cable does not fit. It also helps the supplier discuss whether a bend tube, spring, ferrule, adjuster or end cap needs to be included.
Common End Fittings
Bowden cable end fittings can include ball ends, barrel ends, threaded terminals, eyelets, hooks, clevis-style connections, casing ferrules, adjusters, springs and end caps. The inner cable end and the casing end may use different interfaces. Label them as End A and End B, then add a close-up photo of each side with a ruler or another scale reference.
If the fitting name is unknown, describe what it connects to and show the mating hardware. A Custom Bowden Cable can be reviewed from a sample, measured sketch or drawing when the terminal geometry is difficult to identify by name. The Bowden Cable vs Control Cable guide can help separate terminology from the actual movement and connection requirement.
RFQ Checklist
Before sending a custom Bowden cable RFQ, prepare:
- Product function and equipment type
- Overall assembly length and housing length
- Exposed inner cable length, if relevant
- Inner cable diameter and housing outside diameter, if known
- Working stroke, neutral position and movement direction
- Route photos or a measured sketch
- End A and End B inner-cable and casing-end photos
- Mating brackets, threads, pins or other interfaces
- Quantity, packaging and drawing revision, if applicable
Use the Request a Quote page when the available dimensions and photos are ready. If the project starts from an existing cable, the Sample-Based Cable Matching service provides a clearer route for organizing the sample information.
Common Mistakes
The most common sizing mistake is treating overall length as the complete specification. Other avoidable issues include measuring the casing while it is compressed, omitting stroke, mixing bare cable diameter with housing diameter, and sending only one end photo. Buyers should also avoid choosing a terminal from a catalogue name without checking the actual mating part and installation space.
FAQ
What should a buyer send when no Bowden cable drawing exists?
Send a full cable photo, both end close-ups, overall and housing length, stroke, the equipment route and any available machine or bracket photos.
Are Bowden cable sizes standardized across applications?
Similar control cable projects may use overlapping reference sizes, but the final combination of inner cable, housing, stroke and terminals must be confirmed for the application.
Can Bowden cable manufacturers quote from a product name only?
A product name can identify the broad family, but a useful quotation normally needs dimensions, function, route, fittings, quantity and drawings, samples or photos when available.
What is the difference between a custom Bowden cable and a push-pull cable?
A Bowden cable describes a routed inner-cable-and-housing structure. Push-pull describes a bidirectional movement requirement. The same project may need both descriptions, plus the stroke and terminal details.
What happens after the RFQ is submitted?
The available cable, housing, fitting and application information is reviewed so open points can be confirmed before quotation communication.
Request a Quote
Prepare the measurements you have, mark uncertain fields clearly, and include the route and terminal photos. Start with Request a Quote or review the Bowden Cable Assembly page for the next product-specific confirmation points.