Speedo cable

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DogT

DogT

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My speedo cable has a round stop on one end pressed onto the inner steel wire. Which end does that go on, the gearbox, or the Speedo end? I've been having trouble with the speedo dropping out now and then, put the speedo on a drill and it seems steady. Turned the wheel while holding the speedo end of the cable and it doesn't seem to jump or miss at all. Maybe if I have it in backwards, it's getting loose? I assume the knurled end also goes to the speedo, like the tach.

Dave
69S
 
The cable housing end that has the metal shiething goes to the drive gear at your rear tire. Assuming you haven't taken the inner cable out and reversed it your fine. Remember to grease the inner cable good but stop about 6 inches from the Speedo so grease doesn't get in it. Also grease your gear drive well. If you do this your speedo should run smooth assuming it is in good shape. Iv'e been surprised at how acurate mine has been. Don't remember them that way as a kid but I bet my maintanance was severly lacking back then.
 
My tach cable has the metal sheathing, but not the speedo, it is covered with plastic/rubber tubing all the way to the crimped on ferrule that holds on the nut for the GB. I am thinking the stop goes into the GB end because if I put it on the other way, I get a lot of slop at the speedo end, and not so the other way. I'm not sure which way the inner wire came out, but next ride I'll find out if it's working better. Yes, I knew about not greasing it up by the speedo. Thanks.

Dave
69S
 
I have a spare so when I get home I'll look to see which end is rounded.
 
DogT said:
My speedo cable has a round stop on one end pressed onto the inner steel wire. Which end does that go on, the gearbox, or the Speedo end?
Click to expand...

Speedo end.

(check your tacho cable inner as that probably has one at the instrument end)
 
Thanks L.A.B., that's backwards from what I would have thought, but I reckon it keeps the wire from going up into the speedo too much?

Dave
69S
 
Hmmm, no, my tach cable has the stop at the tach drive. But that's not to say it's right. These parts have been apart and laying around for over 30 years and who knows what I have done to them. It's easy to pull the centers out and not put them back right. I'll try them with the stop at the clock end and see how it goes. Right now the tach is working fine, it's just the speedo dropping out and it doesn't appear to be the clock or the gearbox skipping as far as I can tell in the garage. I may have to go down the road with the cable staring me in the face, or at least with the bike on the centre stand running.

Dave
69S
 
The end with the crimped ferrel goes to the speedo. Sheethed external to the gearbox. Slide the internal cable from the speedo end into the casing and the crimped end should ride at a height that will engage into the speedo yet will not allow the inner to slide too far into the drive.

Is this the info you seek?

FYI Not that you have this situation but it might nelp another, If your speedo still jumps once in a while after this, your unit may need to be serviced. After 30 years or so the internal bushing tend to dry out and there is no way to lube them. Eventually the needle will break. Classic symptom!
Gone unchecked the internal workings can become so tight that the speedo cable will break near the or just below the ferrel, an extra expence.

My unit is now at Nisongers in NY. Cost for this service is $170.
 
I have had a simular problem with my "70" Rebuilt speedo, new speedo drive and new cable,it apears that the replacement speedo drives now available need more inner cable length than the o.e. unit, i ended having a new inner cable made with a longer end where it inserts into the speedo drive- all is now happy.
Al
 
Too many confusing words, not enough pictures. Here's what I get from L.A.B. as being correct. The nut goes to the gearbox, the knurled nut to the speedo and the stop at the inner cable end goes to the speedo. My cable does not have an outer metal sheath, the tach does.

Speedo cable


Incorrect, according to L.A.B. This thing used to work correctly, so I'm assuming it will again, maybe asking too much.

Speedo cable


Dave
69S
 
possm, no, that's the one that came with it, I have to assume it was original with the bike, nearly everything else was except the valve covers.

Dave
69S
 
pv, Well, that's what L.A.B. said too. I'm sure I had it on the other way. As soon as the temps drop down below 90 some degrees, I'll start it up and see if it works. It used to. Like I said, the speedo runs smooth with a drill in it.

Dave
69S
 
DogT said:
I'm sure I had it on the other way. As soon as the temps drop down below 90 some degrees, I'll start it up and see if it works. It used to. Like I said, the speedo runs smooth with a drill in it.
Click to expand...

If it works better the wrong way then fit it the wrong way!

However, the stop on your cable looks as if it may be too close to the end as it needs to be positioned so that 9/16" (or a little less-but no more) of inner cable projects from the end of outer cable ferrule (not including the knurled nut).
 
The tach was running fine, but the speedo was dropping out. I'll try them both with the stop at the clock end and see what happens, I'm sure I had the stop at the other end on both. I'll measure the stop, but they both look the same, and when I push the cables all the way in, the cables only protrude to the end of the knurled nut, which I understand is correct. The stop seems to hit the face of the clock input, so it probably keeps it from going too far in.

Thanks,
Dave
69S
 
However (yes, another however) if your instruments are the type with the brass coloured cap like the one on the right in the photo, then it's 7/16" cable projection, and I think that type of instrument uses a cable with a slightly different end fitting?
Speedo cable
 
[If it works better the wrong way then fit it the wrong way!

Ho Ho :mrgreen:

Nut end of the outer cable definitley belongs at the speedo g/box. Knurled end of the outer belongs at the clock end.

Brass ferrule on the inner cable goes into the clock and the ferrule is designed to stop it from going in too far.

Regardless of length!
 
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