Cable Car ?

[sloopjohnrb]

I beieve the clicking noise from my 1962 4 door Moggie is due to the speedo cable-I've tried lubricating it but it is set inside a plastic coating so the lubrication has had no effect.

I think I need to replace the speedo cable, so ANY information on the best way to go about this would be appreciated.
Is it a difficult job?
What pitfalls might there be?
Sloopjohnrb

[newagetraveller]

The speedo cable is made up of a lot of steel wires twisted together. If one of the wires breaks it catches on the casing which makes the clicking noise.

One end of the cable is screwed into the back of the speedo. To get at it you need to take the speedo out of the dashboard by grasping both sides and pulling it towards you. The speedo is held in place by two phillips screws, one on either side, which can by accessed via holes in the sides of the two glove compartments. You only need to loosen these screws. Only pull the speedo out far enough to unscrew the cable. Be careful or you will disconnect the light bulbs.

The other end of the cable is screwed into the side of the gearbox. This is the best possible weather for getting under the car to do it. You will probably need a pair of pliers or a mole wrench.

[Chris Morley]

Before pulling the gloveboxes and speedo out try this: undo the gearbox nut with molegrips. Lift it away (you will see the squared end of the inner cable). Now bend & push the lower end into the engine bay. Tie the end to any suitable point within the engine bay with the free end of the cable pointing upwards. Then drive the car.

If the noise has stopped, you have confirmed what it is. If not, you've saved yourself buying a new cable and pulling the dashboard apart.

Assuming the noise stops, you will need to obtain a new cable from a specialist. Pull out the old inner cable (from the speedo end). and inspect it. If it is frayed you may be able to get away with simply sliding in the new inner cable, reusing the old outer casing. Add a smear of grease all along and make sure no grit is stuck to it. A combination of pushing and twisting will locate the far end into the gearbox slot.

If the outer cable casing is knackered or causing friction you'll have to replace the whole lot as per Newagetraveller's instructions.

[olonas]

Re the above, I don't want to appear a "smart a___e", but I don't think the inner cable can be extracted from the gearbox end, it's secured by a collar at the speedo unit. I'm sure someone will correct me if wrong, but I've just renewed the cable on my own saloon and from what I recall the instument end had to be released to free the inner cable. However, the inner could be fed through from the top end without releasing the nut at the gearbox. Hopefully a bit of swearing and frustration may be avoided with the foregoing. If you have to renew the complete cable (inner & outer) secure the instrument end first it is then easier to locate the other end in the drive. Don't push the rubber grommet into the bulkhead hole until the speedo unit is back in position, use a bit of washing up liquid as a lubricant to assist sliding the grommet along the cable and to help the grommet into the hole.

[Chris Morley]

Very good & correct point Olonas - I should have thought about the details. I've updated my posting to relect this. The first cable that gave way on my minor didn't have a collar (and it wore out at the speedo end). The replacement I got from East Sussex Minors did have a collar and clearly that should be at the speedo end. Presumably it's there to stop the inner cable sliding out from the gearbox end.

On reflection, I think the original (collarless) cable which frayed was probably a bodge job taken from another vehicle. In fact the frayed end wasn't squared off in the correct way which was probably a big clue.