Right-Angle Speedo Drive

[angelfj1]

During my recent pleasurable run in the 250, the speedo went out abruptly. Not that dancing back and forth and noise you get when the cable needs lubrication, but just suddenly nothing. This happened previously only 2 times since 1985. Not bad, right? I suspected the right-angle drive which is driven off the A-type over-drive. I was correct. The plastic gear had melted because the dumb owner (me) forgot to lube it. Well, I picked up the phone and ordered a replacement. Gee, $65? Well, at least this time I will be more diligent in maintaining the lubrication. But upon receipt, I may have been heard saying, "Just look at this sorry piece of crap". Die-cast body and no grease fitting or other way to provide lubrication. $65. ??? Wonder how long this one will last? Certainly not 20 + years which was the average life of the first 2, which , by the way, were machined from brass. Any suggestions? Can this drive be modified to accept some sort of grease fitting?

 

[DougF]

I think you can save yourself some possible problems by remembering to lube it every year with a light weight grease. Just include it in your annual tune up.
Another thing to look at is the speedo. I had an old TR6 that had an accumulation of old graphite and grease at the drive input. That along with a heavier oil than necessary in the speedo gears caused the stripping out of several plastic driven gears in the tranny.

 

[piman]

Hello Frank,

you might like to see if you can do as I do on the Triumph 2000 sedan (Same engine and A type overdrive). After going through a couple of angle drives many years ago, I modified any of my 2000's (I have had them as daily drivers for about 25 years) by drilling through the gearbox tunnel opposite the speedo drive and running the cable directly into the gearbox, re-routing the cable inside the car.

I don't know if your chassis is in the way but it is worth looking at. Angle drives were expensive back all those years as well.

Alec

 

[angelfj1]

Alec: That's a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Bob Claffie]

Did the same thing with an MGB. Ended up using a slightly longer (OD) cable. Never a problem. Bob

 

[Airfix]

piman,
great idea, has anybody ever tried this on a TR6 with the "J" type?
My angle drive is now U/S, car is out the back in my storage garage, I will have to check it out to see if this will work. I think on the 6 the longer the cable the better, that way it can be routed into the car through the tunnel then back out again in the pax footwell area. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[NickMorgan]

I would also check that there is no unusual resistance in the speedo or cable before fitting the new right angle drive. This could have caused the plastic part of the drive to fail prematurely /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif