Technic Flex Cable

[CP5670]

Yes, it is very common for these to break but it has nothing to do with sitting for a couple of years. The material used to make them is very brittle so extreme care must be taken when attaching the end fitting or they snap.

This is especially a problem with the older, pre-1995 flex connectors. I try to carefully wiggle the cables in or out of the slots instead of pulling them suddenly. I've had one break from an 8839 set when I pulled it out (the set was only recently opened at the time), and it was unfortunately a rare 7-length kind, although my other cables are all in good shape. The newer flex connectors with tabs are much easier to work with.

I lived for sometime in Southern California; the dinosaur from the "control center II" set 8485 was standing tall and mighty in one of the windows of the house. Well, it basically fell apart. The flex cables had become very brittle where they were exposed to the sun-light but they were still "soft" at the covered stretches.

That sounds bad. I guess they are more sensitive to sunlight than normal bricks, much like the old stickers that crack up in sunlight.

[technichead]

yes used it code pilot truck 8479 it was used in the front used for closing then crab

[nahpets]

Sorry to bump but facing this issue with set 8440. 

Does anyone think 3D printer filament from the spool would be a good alternative? It comes in the 1.75mm diameter of the flex cables and is also plastic 

I have not seen it before so cant comment on the strength/durability to see if its a potential alternative.