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Problem with speedo cable

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TexasKnucklehead

Jedi Knight
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It's been a little over a year since I rebuilt my TR6 transmission and installed it. When I did, I added an extra kink to the cable, and it finally snapped a few weeks back. But, for a year, the speed indication bounced horribly at low speeds (duh).

So, I ordered a new cable from TRF, it finally came, and I finally got around to instal it (properly routed this time). With all the rain, and heat, I finally got to drive the TR6 tonight and the speedometer didn't work. I drove it anyway and it was wonderful.

It bugged me, so I looked closer when I got home. The old one that snapped (I hesitate to call anything 'original') was black and the new one is grey "product of UK". The grey has about 1/4" of cable protruding from the plastic stop at the speedometer end, while the black one has 1/2" at the same place. -If I insert a piece of broken cable 1/2" into the speedometer, and spin it, the needle moves. But with it only inserted 1/4", nothing happens. I sent an email to TRF in hopes that I get a new cable.

Thoughts? Am I missing something?
 

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Is it possible that the cable housing itself is "stretched"? You might oughta order the whole assembly. I know when I replaced the cable on my car I ended up doing just that to solve the problem. I also ended up with a jumping tach, new assembly solved that one too.
 
Most speedometer shops can make you the inner cable in just about any length you desire. So if your outer housing is not kinked, worn, separated, that is an option.
 
Fwiw, I've seen a number of complaints about TRF speedo cables recently. So I'm not particularly surprised to hear that yours is sub-par as well.
 
Heck, that seems like a no-brainer. Send it back to TRF and try one from the other vendors. All the major vendors have a good return policy.
 
Right. I may have to get another one. Still waiting for any word from TRF.

The 'original' one broke where I had an extra bend in the housing, and the cable will not come out of the housing -except for the broken off part. The cable will not even rotate inside the housing. So, a repair cable is not an option without a new housing.

It seems like a lot of hassle for 1/4" of cable.

The cable cost me 17.95, and another 7.25 to ship it. So If I ship it back for 7.25, I've spent 14.50 to possibly get 17.95 refunded. Doesn't seem worth it...
 
FWIW -- When I recently had a TRF part that was unsuitable they refunded the shipping both ways (and of course the purchase price too).

Note: It can take them a looooong time to process a credit to your card though if you ask the credit to be applied to another order that happens right away.
 
Mr Texan, did you get a good one yet. There has been a few post on bad speed cables and I want to put a new one on my 71 before I button up the trans cover. Has anyone figured this out yet?
 
No Mr here. I go by Jer -or knucklehead by my brothers.

I have not heard back from TRF, but the strangest thing happened yesterday. I was driving the TR6, and left the driveway taking note of all the guages -expecially the speedometer as I was driving to the gas station and waiting for it to get to normal operating temperature. No speedometer on a 50 mile drive is not a big deal. I filled up, and pulled out of the station, and the speedometer started working. Needle is nice and smooth. It worked all the way to where I was going and back. I wonder how long it will work.
 
Too much NOS /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
 
I got a call from TRF today. It seems the grey cable is the 'proper' replacement, and the black cable is made by someone else. The spec calls for 3/8" from the cable end to the plastic keeper. Several of the new cables at TRF were measured and are at 3/8" -but there is a little varation and mine could be slightly shorter.

When I measured the grey one in my car, I did it lying on my back with a flash light pointed up under the dash and a small ruler. It might be 3/8". Should I pull it through and measure it? Should I wait until it stops working?
 
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