The International Cessna 170 Association

I pretty much Ignored them for Decades , now many questions

The distal end of bowden cable depicted Fig 55-9 p.n 0713019-16 just states Clip--Cabin heater Valve
It appears one is to use needle nose pliers and bend a TAB down till it engages the winding of the bowden cable

I am reminded that the IPC just identifies parts and relative locations - Not instructional.

My specific question to all. Is there a better, more modern way to secure the cable end?

Mine works loose and I am reluctant to do more bending.

The clip may have been bent previously and lost it's tension. If the cable is removed, the clip adjusted, and the cable housing re-installed it may work properly. Another method is to add a bit of safety-wire to secure the cable housing to the clip.

I may be showing the wrong type clip. There is probably something like this: The little indent engages the cable. If this is worn or bend it won't engage.

A fix, besides refurbishing the indent is to wrap safety wire tightly around the Beldon cable on one side of the clip so the wire engages the Beldon cable. Then twist the wire over the clip to the other side and again around the Beldon cable. Below is a example of the the safety wire.

"Distal end?" Sounds like you've been spending too much time in the hospital Grady! I've attached a couple of pictures of what Grady is talking about. Safety wire, like George mentioned, would be the easiest fix but the clamp Bruce illustrated would work as a backup to the existing cabin heater valve clip. Check out this discussion for clamp sources. Miles might still have an extra one. (As an aside, I noticed that p/n 0713019-16 is listed as both the clip in fig. 55-9 and the cabin heater valve shaft in fig. 55-7. If the early C-172 IPC is correct then the cabin heater valve shaft should be p/n 0713019-19).

Run the safety wire around the U bracket already there and your done.