New parts and speedo cable woes

[2wrench]

Long-ago ordered and received speedo cable.

Newly received speedo adapter and retainer (to hold the
speedo cable onto the overdrive unit on tranny).

Long-ago ordered and received 90 degree speedo angle.


Concern: Adapter does not want to screw into speedo angle
all the way. Goes a few threads on then stops. (Kinda like
you've got the wrong kind of threads trying to meash).

Also, once installed threaded to the extent possible, the
speedometer cable now should turn if one or the other end
of the cable is manually turned, shouldn't it? The speedo
angle is supposed to help the cable make the turn and
allow the cable to turn at both ends, right? Not
turning. Whazzzzup?

 

[DougF]

Does the angle drive turn independently? Are there any burs in either the male or female threads?

 

[2wrench]

Doug: Seems to be pretty good. I'll try and post some pics. Think that
might help. Talked to John Esposito. Says the adapters come in both
standard and fine threads. Guess my eye ain't so hot. That could be
the problem.

Also, learned from John the speedo cable will not function without
install of the spacer...(looks like a washer to me). So, give me a little
more time and pics with maybe some explanations will be forthcoming.

Thanks,

 

[mrv8q]

Also, once installed threaded to the extent possible, the
speedometer cable now should turn if one or the other end
of the cable is manually turned, shouldn't it?

My speedo cable worked when I exchanged ends......

 

[2wrench]

Pic of the thing:

Look at the hat-looking part (adapter) to the lower right of the picture.
It could be that the threads there do not match. Seems it should be
easy enough to figure, but for me, requires a trip to the hardware store.
They look right to me, but they don't seem to fit nor feel right.

 

[DougF]

Does your hat piece unscrew from the knurled section above it?

 

[Brosky]

That doesn't look like mine at all.

Pics tonight................

 

[2wrench]

Does your hat piece unscrew from the knurled section above it?

Yes, Doug. Just above the flat washer-looking portion are the threads.
Notice how there are a number of threads exposed. That is becasue these
two pieces are not screwing together all the way down. Part of my concern.

 

[2wrench]

That doesn't look like mine at all.

Pics tonight................

Wow, Paul. Thanks so much. We'll get to the bottom of
things.

 

[TR3driver]

Looks cross-threaded to me, which would be consistent with the threads not matching.

And of course the cable should turn freely with it all put together.

It's funny that your angle drive looks to have a chrome nut to screw onto the adapter ... mine all look more like pot metal (same as the body of the angle drive). I think you may have the wrong angle drive (or perhaps one that has been 'repaired'). But otherwise, those look like the same parts I have on my J-type ODs.

 

[2wrench]

Here is another picture showing the adapter that should screw into
the Speedo angle. Please forgive the quality of the picture.
The Speedo angle was puchased from John Esposito at Quantum. He's got
a good reputaion, I think, but the other parts came from one of the Big
Three. I suspect improper threads, but we'll see.

 

[2wrench]

Maybe this shot is a little better, anyway:

 

[2wrench]

One more pic shows all the parts I have to make this happen.
John says the brass-looking washer (actually a spacer in this application)
goes into the cable end that you see it closest to now. Says it must be
in there for the cable to turn.

That spacer barely fits into the end of my cable. Do you think a little
wire wheel work around the outside edges of the spacer will do the trick?
I don't want to force improper parts, if that I have; but a little
persuasion is in order, at times.

 

[dklawson]

I would not use a wire wheel. Do you have a thread file?

The "big" threaded speedo cable parts used by Smiths were typically M19x1. If you have a thread file with a profile to cut 24 threads/inch... it will be close enough (though not the correct pitch) to clean up the threads on the hat-shaped piece. If by some miracle you have a metric thread file (I certainly don't) you can clean up these threads with the 1mm pitch profile.

I'm afraid that if you wire-wheel the threads all you will do is remove their crowns.

EDIT:
Just for fun, have you tried threading the hat-shaped part directly into the speedo cable to see if it fits those threads? It should.

 

[2wrench]

Okay, yeah, and the hat (adapter) will screw right onto the speedometer

cable there no problem.

It seems that the one fitting on the Speedo angle is threaded differently.

John Espositio says if I got the Speedo angle from him, it is fine threads.

Guess I'm going to the hardware store. I sure hate to go cutting on

threads, but I just may.

 

[TR3driver]

Seems like evidence enough to return the angle drive, to me.

Little hard to tell from your photos, but it kind of looks like the nut on the angle drive isn't deep enough, or maybe isn't sliding down it's little shaft far enough. Does it seem that way to you as well? I guess what I'm asking is, is the nut still loose on the angle drive, when it's screwed as far onto the 'hat' as it will go ?

Still don't understand why it should bind, if the problem is just wrong threads in the angle drive nut.

 

[Brosky]

Sorry, my bad. I guess that I do have one of the lock downs on mine. It's in the last picture, on the transmission. The adapter is as shown.

 

[dklawson]

I don't think you'll find anything at the hardware store that can help you. As I mentioned earlier, the Smiths large cable threads are typically M19x1. Unless there is divine intervention you will not find that tap or die in any hardware store. Apart from the Smiths products, the only place I've seen it has been on some obscure electronic parts.

I agree with Randall. I think you have good reason to send the angle drive back.

 

[TR3driver]

I got out the 10x eye loupe and the thread gauges ... the thread pitch on my angle adapter is definitely not quite 1MM but instead 26tpi. Which I think makes those 3/4" CEI (Cycle Engineers Institute) threads.

Only slightly less obscure than M19x1, but I found a tap at
Rutland Tool and Supply

 

[mikespain]

Hi 2wrench As has been asked,when the "hat" is screwed in can you move the "hat" backwards and forwards (which I expect it will)or is it butting up properly?If there is no play the adapter is too long,in which case I would measure the depth of the screw cap on the angle adapter and carefully cut the "hat to suit or better get the correct "hat" .If there is play then if the supplier of the angle adapter says that it is fine threads and the "hat" screws directly onto the cable with no problem then the thread into which the "hat" is supposed to screw is damaged in some way or incorrectly cut,Try taking it to a freindly local machine shop for to see if anything can be done, if not the angle adapter needs changing as cutting the correct thread in the cap is very difficult without the correct tap and the cost of the tap will probably buy you 2 or 3 adapters at least