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Speedometer Cable-5-speed Trans

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Patrick67BJ8

Patrick67BJ8

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My speedometer doesn't work when I tighten the Toyota speedometer cable to the speedometer housing. I tried my spare speedometer and the same thing. However, when I loosen the cable from the back of the speedometer housing it works! The cable sticks out 1/2" out of the cable housing that attaches to the rear of the speedo housing(see photo). Is this the correct length or does it need to be shortened?
 

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steveg said:
7/16" is correct per this drawing from Nisonger:
View attachment 32886
More will damage the speedo. Not sure about the .27"
Click to expand...
The black grease on the end of my cable is from my Nisonger rebuilt speedo. It seems as though moving the cable by hand ever so slightly affects the reading/movement of the speedo needle. Maybe the cable must have to go directly into the speedo housing a certain way(perfectly straight) and possibly the knurled nut must be more than hand-tight? It's been 7 years since I took my Healey off the road for a "frame-up restoration" and getting everything working back right is taking time to get them all working like they once did.
 
Patrick67BJ8 said:
The black grease on the end of my cable is from my Nisonger rebuilt speedo. It seems as though moving the cable by hand ever so slightly affects the reading/movement of the speedo needle. Maybe the cable must have to go directly into the speedo housing a certain way(perfectly straight) and possibly the knurled nut must be more than hand-tight? It's been 7 years since I took my Healey off the road for a "frame-up restoration" and getting everything working back right is taking time to get them all working like they once did.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm ... 'black grease' on the end of the cable doesn't sound good to me. At most, some light, white grease can be used on internals, though I prefer silicone lubricants for both the speedo internals and the cable (works like oil, doesn't seem to accumulate dust and form crud). The cable should be spinning a bit before the indicator needle comes alive; most I've seen don't 'come alive' until the car is going 5-10MPH. The black grease and the needle movement with slight cable movement indicates to me something is gunked-up in the speedo (but this is just a SWAG).

The 'knurled nut' is knurled for a reason: hand-tightening. Its threads are very fine and it's easy to cross-thread. I don't advise taking channellocks to it.
 
Bob_Spidell said:
Hmmmm ... 'black grease' on the end of the cable doesn't sound good to me. At most, some light, white grease can be used on internals, though I prefer silicone lubricants for both the speedo internals and the cable (works like oil, doesn't seem to accumulate dust and form crud). The cable should be spinning a bit before the indicator needle comes alive; most I've seen don't 'come alive' until the car is going 5-10MPH. The black grease and the needle movement with slight cable movement indicates to me something is gunked-up in the speedo (but this is just a SWAG).

The 'knurled nut' is knurled for a reason: hand-tightening. Its threads are very fine and it's easy to cross-thread. I don't advise taking channellocks to it.
Click to expand...
The black grease is real fine and more like a light-weight lubricate. The speedo was rebuilt by Nisonger so it must be okay. I did get in touch with Pete Delaney and he pulled a new speedo cable from his 5-speed kits and said his was 3/8". (I did get my kit from Pete back in 2007). I'm hesitant to shorten the end right now and he suggested that I put a washer(s) in the end to shorten the length that way. I agree...no channellocks". If I grab hold of the cable under the dash with the knurled nut loose the speedo needle varies its reading and also holding it certain ways makes it read the cars speed. More investigation tomorrow!
 
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