Speedometer cable question
 

Giid evening folks,
I had a speedometer cable break on my 1930 Sport Coupe. When I tried to extract the old cable from the speedometer body, it just doesn't seem to want to come out. What am I doing wrong?
Kind regards
Mike
Johannesburg, South Africa

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

LizardsA - Have you taken the outer sheath loose from the speedometer? On mine the cable will not pull out in that direction; you must take the knurled nut loose from the speedometer, and then pull the cable out in the direction that is towards the speedo. Hope this makes sense.

On the cable at the speedo end there is an attached washer that causes this,

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Hello Ron, no, I haven't done that yet. Are you saying that I need to take the whole speedometer apart?
Mike

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

I don't believe he is saying that. You need to pull the instrument panel though and unhook the outer housing from the back of the speedo. the cable (or in your case, 1/2 of the cable should pull out that direction I think the rest should come out the other end at the speedo gear (drive train end).

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

LizardsA - What Lee & Coupe stated above was what I was trying to convey. Sorry I didn't word it properly.

As they have stated, the outer cable housing needs to be detached at both ends; then your inner cable should come out.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Okay, let me try and articulate this a little better. The outer cable is off on both ends. The inner cable broke off about six inches from the speedometer. I clipped off all but about an inch off the speedometer end, leaving what you see in the attached picture. Before I go and force anything, I need your learned advice.Attachment 166779

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

That SHOULD come right out w/o any need of force. Strange.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Would it be okay to give it a squirt of penetrating oil?

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

As stated above, the cable end should slip right out with little to no effort. Some penetrating oil will not hurt, but try to keep it contained to the cable end, and not get it on any other parts of the speedometer; especially the numbering. Using a pliers as 1930 coupe suggested maybe all that's needed.

How does the speedometer turn? Grab the broken cable end and twist it with you fingers; it should turn with very little effort. (Something had to cause that cable to twist in two.)

Mine quit turning a couple of years ago, and the grease in the speedometer became hard and really made it turn very hard. I spent a lot of time getting that old grease out and re-lubricating it. But once I did that it turned smooth as silk. Good luck.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

After I bought a new inner cable, I discovered that the outer cable had been pinched, therefore the reason why the inner cable broke. Wound up just buying a complete assembly. Was that way when I bought the PU.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

I think the reason why it broke was it was pinched on the outer cable.
I have tried with a pair of needle nosed pliers as 1930 coupe suggested, after carefully dropping a couple of drops of penetrating oil into the tube where the cable goes into the speedometer. It remains very tightly stuck in there. Is there not maybe a key way that the end of the cable slides into?
If I turn the cable, I can get the speed to read very easily up to around 15mph

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Goodness me, this is beginning to look complicated to say the least! I am going to take it to a speedometer specialist tomorrow to see if he can maybe throw a bit if light on this.
Thanks to all for your good advice as always
Kind regards
Mike
South Africa

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

I was going to suggest exactly what 1930 Coupe has suggested. It should pry out with the needle nose. If it looks like someone used JB Weld or some such to glue it in place, then I'd use a small torch to heat the cable and see if you can pry it out with the needle nose as suggested.

It would be tough to drill and you most likely would go off center and mess up the shaft in the speedometer. If it cones down to it you could use a Dremel and small diamond bit to grind it out, but that would be the very last thing I'd try.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

If it's glued, try dissolving the glue with a bit of acetone.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

That sounds like the best move, given the situation.

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Good evening folks,
I took the speedometer with its stuck cable still in, to one of our club members. He took one look at the stuck cable, and said to me that someone has previously forced that cable into the shaft. He is going to take it to a speedometer specialist in the area. So let's see what comes of that.
I thank you all for your really valuable input on this matter.
Kind regards
Mike
Johannesburg South Africa

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Okay, I have the speedometer back from the speedometer specialist. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the end that had been stuck inside the speedometer, so it leads me to ask my next question: the end of the new speedometer cable has a square shape to it, but I don't see how it fits into the speedometer drive. If I shine a flashlight into the speedometer drive, I cannot see the shape that the cable should fit into. Am I doing domething wrong?

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

On the rear of my 30 Stewart Warner speedo the hole starts off round but turns to square approx. 1/4" into it, you should be able to see the square or feel it with a small bladed screwdriver, if there is no square you may have found the reason it was glued in.
Regards Graham

Re: Speedometer cable question
 

Problem solved! It was just a matter of filing the square end of the new cable down to fit into the hole.
Grahams30 you were right, the hole is square when felt with a small screwdriver.
After filing it down some, I have managed to get the cable to fit nice and snugly.
Thanks everyone for all the help and advice
Regards
Mike
Johannesburg, South Africa