Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello all, our newly-arrived '70 2-door's speedo started playing up yesterday on the way back from the Bath half marathon, the needle is swinging across the first half of the clock, it drops to zero every now and then, then comes back to wandery life again. When it does settle for a few seconds it seems to be under-reading. Is that just a new cable needed, and if so are there any part-sourcing and fitting tips members can pass on? Many thanks, Tony

Had a look through the MMOC tech manual contents, just on the off chance, but it doesn't seem to be covered. Nothing in my Haynes manual, Olyslager or owner's manual either, and I can't see any previous threads on this subject (though I'm sure there must have been at some point).

When mine did that it was just a new cable, they are fairly easy to fit, take out the speedo (check the glove box liners, they should have holes on the sides which face the speedo, a crosshead screwdriver into their allows you to loosen the speedo retaining bolts. Don't do what I did and loosen it too far or you'll have a lost bolt and a new rattle) and disconnect the old cable from the back of it and the passengers side of the gearbox then fit the new one making sure that it doesn't go round anything too tightly (if that makes sense) or you'll kink the cable.
Nice to see there are more Moggies in Warminster, I lived there a few years ago back when I had a Trafalgar blue 2 door

thanks for this Philip, sounds like a job for me and the boy, did you get your new cable from MMOC Spares?

I'd have either got mine from ESM (morrisminorspares.co.uk) or Bull M otif (morrisminorspares.net) depending which was cheapest at the time.

OK brilliant Philip thanks very much indeed, really appreciate your help.

Mine was wavering around at 10-20 mph from what I thought I was doing. Doing the mean average was right sometimes.
I tried a new inner and outer cable. But eventually took the speedo out and took it to an instrument tech who fixed the problem. When I dropped it off he said he could feel it binding when he turned the speedo at the back. Its good now - no wavering around at all
But suggest you make sure your current cable is turning ok first, then new inner and outer, before getting someone to look at speedo head.

Thanks Sirrom, mine seems to be mainly pessimistic which is not the best choice of the two when it comes to speedos and my Moggy seems very keen to motor along at quite a gallop (thanks to previous owner Mark for fettling it so nicely). I've ordered a new cable and grommet from Bull Motif, came to eleven quid inc postage, if this beautiful spring weather continues I'll a have grope around as soon as it arrives.

The old cable my just have worked loose - but you may as well fit the new one when it arrives. If oil/grease has come up the old cable and into the speedo head - you will need to clean it all thoroughly.

Yes, for the money - about a fiver - it seems a false economy not to fit a new one.

Is that for a complete cable - or just an 'inner' ?

Well it looks like the whole thing to me http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=2996
at £5.95.

Certainly does! Surprised how little it's costing. Hope it does the trick for you!

Thanks, that's kind of you. Small boys do have their uses, as he will find out when I get him to dive in under the bonnet and tell me where the cable is.

It connects to the gearbox on the side, below car - not in engine compartment.

Yes, but he doesn't know that… He did say he wanted to learn. If he's going to inherit the car on his 18th he needs to make all the mistakes I am hoping to avoid.

Cunning plan! Just be glad it's not a Mini - the speedo connection is a nightmare to reach!

Interesting… a Mk 1 Mini is my next target.

Expensive !

I too have had some speedo troubles lately, loosing both the speed indicator and odometer. So I naturally changed the cable, which made no difference, so then I tried a secondhand speedo that I had, still no luck. finally I found the culprit, the drive spindle and gear wheel. This was replaced with a new part that I obtained from the Austin Healey Spares Company ( As my normal Minor parts supplier could only obtain a second hand one).

I'm not sure but I believe the tightness of my odometer caused the problems I had with speedo spindle etc.)

Gary.