speedometer cable question

[JPSmit]

when i brought my car to the shop to be certified, speedo worked. when I drove it home, it didn't. jacked up the car - disconnected and reconnected cable at transmission - speedo worked fine.

went for a drive tonight and speedo stopped working again. I haven't checked but am certain it as popped out again at the transmission. Any thoughts as to why it is popping out and what I can do to keep it in.

 

[jlaird]

Might try dressing the end of the cable with a small bastard file so it will fit in the gear part. I bet it was made a bit large. Is it kinda newish.

 

[JPSmit]

nope - original so far as I know - I was wondering whether a touch of silicon or even gasket seal might old it there

 

[Sarastro]

The cable should not be able to pop out of the transmission end if it is the correct length and the shells are screwed on all the way at both ends. If you're sure it's screwed on all the way, and it's popping out, you probably should take off the cable and make sure it's the right length. There should be a bushing, if I remember correctly, at the speedometer end to locate it.

Some speedometer places make custom cables, and you may have one, not correctly made. Or the bushing may have come off, allowing it to move into the speedo farther than it should. Or, it's possible that the shell seems to be screwed on all the way, when it isn't; it can be hard to tell sometimes.

 

[regularman]

Another thing that happens is that the cable is hard spring steel and the speedo itself has brass where the spring cable fits into it and sometimes this brass "wallers" out. Or the cable itself gets replaced and it is smaller. What you have to do is put some thin shim material around the end of the cable before you stick it in the speedo to take up the gap.

 

[JPSmit]

Another thing that happens is that the cable is hard spring steel and the speedo itself has brass where the spring cable fits into it and sometimes this brass "wallers" out. Or the cable itself gets replaced and it is smaller. What you have to do is put some thin shim material around the end of the cable before you stick it in the speedo to take up the gap.

I was thinking about that - what do you suggest? teflon tape? tin foil? paper?

 

[regularman]

Another thing that happens is that the cable is hard spring steel and the speedo itself has brass where the spring cable fits into it and sometimes this brass "wallers" out. Or the cable itself gets replaced and it is smaller. What you have to do is put some thin shim material around the end of the cable before you stick it in the speedo to take up the gap.

I was thinking about that - what do you suggest? teflon tape? tin foil? paper?

It has got to be something stronger than that and must keep the square shape. I used thin metal from an aluminum can. It only takes a tiny piece. Cut it out and bend it around the cable end so it is square like the cable. That way it takes up space on all four sides and serves as a square bushing to take up the slop.

 

[JPSmit]

good idea - thanks

 

[regularman]

Careful, that aluminum will cut the crap out of your hands.