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Speedometer cable hook up

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mgbnew

mgbnew

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When driving home from work yesterday all of a sudden I heard a knocking sound coming from behind the dash. I pulled over and the sound stopped. With the engine running no sound. When in gear the sound returned. After about an hour of looking under at the engine thinking I knew what I was looking for I asked my son to come for a ride and see if he could listen and see where the knocking was coming from. We both noticed at the same time that the speedometer was not working. Placing my hand on the faceplate I felt the knocking. Back in the driveway I squeezed under the dash with a flashlight and noticed that the cable had come loose. When I tried to tighten it it came out of the place it should be connected to. After about an hour of trying to reconnect it I gave up. Being in that position for that length of time was torture. I noticed that at the end of the cable it had a small thread to it. My question is, how does it go back in. Does the cable just push in and then tighten or is there a trick to it?
 
I'm afraid I can't help you with your problem, but I just wanted to say that's a fine looking MGB you have there--though I admit that I am biased towards black 70's Bs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Me too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif good looking ride!
 
The cable end (the one inside the sheath) should be "squared", and it should slide into the guage without any resistance. If it was "thumping" this may be an indication of a damaged cable. You can check it now (since it's disconnected already) by pulling the inner cable from the sheath. Grease it if it's not damaged and reinstall it. Be warned: it's a messy process. The inner cable will leave grease on anything it touches.
 
THanks for the idea. I will try it tonight. The end of the cable actual looks like a self tapping screw but ther is a shapped end to it.
Thanks again.
 
I'm not sure about the "late" LBCs but most I've seen up until the late 1970s used a thread-on connection at both ends of the cables. The common speedo connection is threaded M12x1 and the gearbox ends were usually M19x1. Like the DR. said, check the end of the cable core to make sure it's still square. There's always a debate about the best lube to use on cables. I prefer a thin coat of oil to the thicker grease. Regardless of what you choose, it will be messy.
 
You should probably consider a new cable from the description: "self tapping screw." It should be uniformly wound thru the entire length and be stamped smooth and square at the ends. Mebbe a photo?
 
I think a new cable for that NEW car would be in order. hehe
 
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