Home >  Blog >  How to measure a control cable for replacement?

How to measure a control cable for replacement?

Posted by Industrial and Cable Group on 5 February 2026
How to measure a control cable for replacement?

At Industrial and Cable Group we are often approached about replacement of control cables and how to accurately measure it and or find something that will fit a specific application.  

The first thing to check for is a part number – some cables have it heat stamped on the outer / conduit of the cable.   It may have also have a brand name printed on it, for example - Morse or Teleflex.  If you know this then we can more than likely can help you with finding a replacement.

If you can’t find this then the answer is to look at the cable you’re replacing; measure it from tip to tip, then take note of what type of cable ends it has eg Bulkhead or Clamp (threaded or grooved).  Most cable types are measured tip to tip but there are some exceptions to this rule.

The other pieces of information you will need is an understanding of the Cable Series you’re replacing that corresponds to the size of the rods it has.  For example, 30 Series has 3/16” Rod, 40 Series – 1/4” Rod and 60 Series – 5/16” Rod.  Our 40 Series can also come with metric rods at 6mm and 60 Series with metric 8mm rods.  Other control cables may have differing identifying factors.

The next step is knowing what length of travel you need – our standard options offer between 25mm through to 150mm.

In summary the pieces of information you need are:

  • What Ends?
  • What Travel?
  • What Length?
  • Does it have a part number or brand?

Of course, it you can’t find what you’re looking for on our site then we suggest taking photos of your old cable and sending them to us so we can offer some assistance.  Use our CONTACT US FORM or email to sales@industrialandcable.com.au

Industrial and Cable GroupAuthor:Industrial and Cable Group
About: Mark Middleton is the founder of Industrial & Cable Group, an Australian-owned and operated supplier of motion control cables, controls, and accessories for industrial and marine applications. Industrial & Cable Group is a sister company to Multiflex Australia, a long-standing manufacturer in the cable and motion control space, and draws on that same manufacturing heritage and product knowledge. Mark brings more than two decades of hands-on experience in the cable and motion control trade, with a background rooted in the manufacturing side of the industry — knowledge gained from actually producing this componentry, not just selling it. Industrial & Cable Group was launched to make that same manufacturing-grade product more accessible to the wider Australian and New Zealand market, with a 24/7 online service built around quality, fast turnaround, and straightforward access to the right parts. Mark's guiding principle for the business is simple: idle machinery doesn't turn a profit. Drawing on real-world experience specifying, manufacturing, and troubleshooting cable and control systems, Mark's articles are written to give tradespeople and engineers practical, field-tested guidance — not generic theory — across trucking, transport, mining, earthmoving, construction, marine, agriculture, and motor racing applications.
Tags:Push Pull Control CablesMechanical Control CablesPull Only Control CablesMicro Adjust (Vernier) CablesVernier CableTwist Lock Control CablesIndustrial Cable AssembliesHeavy MachineryMining EquipmentAgriculture & Transport EquipmentBlogsVolume DiscountAssembled to OrderStainless Steel30 Series Style Cables40 Series Style Cables60 Series Style CableMorse CableCable End AccessoriesCable AssemblyCable ControlsFlexible Cable LinkageLinkage CablesLinkage AssembliesPTO CablesShifter CablesBM Shifter CablesThrottle CablesBulkhead grooved cablequality stainless steel cablesOrder Cables OnlineInternet cable storeMade to orderbespoke

Welcome to Industrial and Cable Group - for all your industrial cable, controls, and accessories