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MGB Speedometer and tachometer on '66 MGB are not working

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1966MGB

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The speedometer in my 1966 MGB was sent to England for refurbishing around 2001. (I trusted restoration of my car to people I oughtn't have.) It never has worked right. The needle swings wildly -- like from zero to 100 -- no matter what speed I drive.

The tachometer was working three years ago. Unfortunately there were circumstances (flat tires ever time I drove it, poor weather, got married, other Life Tasks, etc.) that prevented me from driving my car. Now the tach seems to be 'dead'. No needle movement.

Any ideas as to what might be wrong, and how to fix them?
 
Check the cables, unusually the problem. Pull them off, pull the cables out of the housing and check for cleanliness and lubrication on the spedo cable. Sounds like the tach cable is broken. PJ
 
PAUL161 said:
Check the cables, unusually the problem. Pull them off, pull the cables out of the housing and check for cleanliness and lubrication on the spedo cable. Sounds like the tach cable is broken. PJ
Click to expand...

Would this be the appropriate speedometer cable (my car has overdrive), and would this be the correct tachometer cable?
 
What tach do you have in your car, Mechanical or electronic? Supposedly there was a change between 1962 and 1967. PJ
 
Tach should be electronic from '64 onward, AFAIR. With the engine running, rev to a bit higher than idle and *gently* tap the case from under the dash with a screwdriver handle...

Bouncing speedo is usually cable not lubed well or that angle drive not being snugly fitted to the gearbox. Have a look at the angle drive installation note on the Moss Motors website.
 
PAUL161 said:
What tach do you have in your car, Mechanical or electronic? Supposedly there was a change between 1962 and 1967. PJ
Click to expand...
No idea.

DrEntropy said:
Tach should be electronic from '64 onward, AFAIR.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Now I have an idea. ;)

DrEntropy said:
Bouncing speedo is usually cable not lubed well or that angle drive not being snugly fitted to the gearbox. Have a look at the angle drive installation note on the Moss Motors website.
Click to expand...
I'll have the mechanic check it out.

I just got back from a 50-mile round-trip. The tach creeped up, but only up -- not down. It was stuck at about 2,300 when I parked it.

The car ran fine, but I noticed a clattering coming from the engine when I got off of the freeway on the way back. I'll take it to the shop on Monday to see what that's about.
 
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