The Ford Barn

xmarine · 12-04-2018, 08:28 AM

I would like to know if anyone else has run into this issue.Inside speedo cable is too short to engage both speedo and drive housing.Apparently the cable goes into drive housing too far.I was advised to insert BB's into the housing to shim the cable towards the speedo.This from a well known supplier.It worked till the BB's ground up.If I remember the cables used to come with a small piece of metal to shim the cable.What are people using for this shim other then BB's?

Mark in MT · 12-04-2018, 10:37 AM

I cut a small piece of rod or a 10-32 screw and drop into the hole to prevent the cable from migrating too far out of the speedometer head, this size is for the oval type cable. On the round face type cable, just use a smaller screw or rod. The length is the difference between the depth of the hole in the shaft and the amount of cable sticking out of the housing, less a little for clearance.

Purdy Swoft · 12-04-2018, 11:10 AM

I make the shim from the piece that cuts off a pop rivet when it is installed . I use the diameter rivet end that more closely matches the diameter of the cable , maybe 3/16 . the shim must be cut to proper length and may take a couple of tries to get it correct enough length to work . A lot of people have problems with this .

Gary WA · 12-04-2018, 10:21 PM

do you have the correct cable and housing? and is the Driven Gear Shaft worn out? shouldn't need to modify with BB's etc? Just my take on it!

Tom Wesenberg · 12-05-2018, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary WA

do you have the correct cable and housing? and is the Driven Gear Shaft worn out? shouldn't need to modify with BB's etc? Just my take on it!

I've heard some repro inner cables are just short enough to need something to space them a bit out to the top end doesn't disengage from the speedometer.

Purdy Swoft · 12-05-2018, 12:10 PM

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All of the repro speedometer cables that I have used , probably in the last thirty years have been too short and needed shimming for the speedometer to work . It didn't seem to matter if I bought only the cable or the cable with housing . Some give up at this point .

Ray in La Mesa · 12-06-2018, 08:53 AM

Had that problem on a '28 Studebaker police patrol wagon, it uses the same oval speedo as the A except the face is white and Stewart Warner is on the face,. I heated the cable end to drive out the oil & washed with solvent, then I silver soldered a blob on the tip and filed it square & to the correct length.

12-04-2018, 08:28 AM	#1
xmarine Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 125	speedo cable I would like to know if anyone else has run into this issue.Inside speedo cable is too short to engage both speedo and drive housing.Apparently the cable goes into drive housing too far.I was advised to insert BB's into the housing to shim the cable towards the speedo.This from a well known supplier.It worked till the BB's ground up.If I remember the cables used to come with a small piece of metal to shim the cable.What are people using for this shim other then BB's?

12-04-2018, 10:37 AM	#2
Mark in MT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Western MT Posts: 218	Re: speedo cable I cut a small piece of rod or a 10-32 screw and drop into the hole to prevent the cable from migrating too far out of the speedometer head, this size is for the oval type cable. On the round face type cable, just use a smaller screw or rod. The length is the difference between the depth of the hole in the shaft and the amount of cable sticking out of the housing, less a little for clearance. __________________ Mark in MT Always looking for another opportunity to be wrong.

12-04-2018, 11:10 AM	#3
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: speedo cable I make the shim from the piece that cuts off a pop rivet when it is installed . I use the diameter rivet end that more closely matches the diameter of the cable , maybe 3/16 . the shim must be cut to proper length and may take a couple of tries to get it correct enough length to work . A lot of people have problems with this .

12-04-2018, 10:21 PM	#4
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,104	Re: speedo cable do you have the correct cable and housing? and is the Driven Gear Shaft worn out? shouldn't need to modify with BB's etc? Just my take on it! __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

12-05-2018, 12:10 PM	#6
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: speedo cable Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) All of the repro speedometer cables that I have used , probably in the last thirty years have been too short and needed shimming for the speedometer to work . It didn't seem to matter if I bought only the cable or the cable with housing . Some give up at this point .

12-06-2018, 08:53 AM	#7
Ray in La Mesa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: La Mesa Ca Posts: 1,166	Re: speedo cable Had that problem on a '28 Studebaker police patrol wagon, it uses the same oval speedo as the A except the face is white and Stewart Warner is on the face,. I heated the cable end to drive out the oil & washed with solvent, then I silver soldered a blob on the tip and filed it square & to the correct length.